The popular dating app Grindr is warning users in Brussels of homophobic violence after police confirmed they are investigating whether a fake date was at the root of a deadly shooting during an Ixelles home invasion on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, a man (57) was shot dead and his wife (57) and son (22) suffered gunshot wounds during a home invasion in the Brussels municipality of Ixelles.
The son had reportedly arranged a date via Grindr, primarily used by gay men, but had instead been lured into a trap by criminals who find their victims through the app. Several men forced their way into the flat and demanded money, which woke up the 22-year-old's parents.
"There is no clarity yet on the exact circumstances and motives of the perpetrator(s)," said the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office in a press release. "However, investigations are underway to determine whether the perpetrator(s) and one of the victims had a possible contact through a meet-up app."
Privacy vs safety
Grindr offers anonymity: users do not have to give their real name. While this feels safe for users who value their privacy, it can also be dangerous. It is sometimes unclear who is behind a profile: a fake profile is easily created.
In late June, five people fell victim to homophobic violence in Brussels after arranging to meet up with someone via Grindr, Le Soir reports. Each time, a similar trap was involved: the victims thought they had a date through the app, but were beaten up when they arrived.
"At the moment, we cannot confirm whether Thursday's shooting is related to homophobic violence, nor whether it is related to previous incidents of homophobic violence in June," the Public Prosecutor said. "This is all part of ongoing investigations."
Two of the incidents in June were reported to Rainbow House, an association representing the interests of LGBTQ people.
"Out of concern, we contacted Grindr and asked them to take action. They created a push notification that appears for Brussels residents who are active on the app," Basile Chandelle of Ex Aequo, an NGO working with Rainbow House, told De Standaard.
The push notification that has since appeared on the screens of Brussels Grindr users reads: "Be sade! Violent and homophobic setups have been reported in Brussels."
