Two Brussels police zones have rounded up a gang of perpetrators who lured victims via the popular dating app Grindr and then violently robbed them. One of the suspects was a minor.
Police forces from the Brussels South and Brussels West zones have arrested several people involved in a gang which targeted, lured in and robbed its victims via the gay dating app Grindr, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office said.
"Since June 2024, seven files have been opened regarding homophobic violence with similar modus operandi," said a spokesperson at the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office. In all files, the suspects reportedly contacted their victims through Grindr.
"Meetings were allegedly arranged, often in the evening or at night, mainly in parks," the spokesperson added. "There, the victims were met by several people who physically assaulted and insulted them. Some were also allegedly robbed. The victims suffered minor to serious injuries and weapons were sometimes used to threaten them."
As part of the joint police investigation, three suspects were identified. "The Prosecutor's Office ordered an investigating judge to conduct searches and arrest the two adult suspects, which was successful. The juvenile prosecution then detained and questioned the minor suspects."
Link to home invasions?
Two suspects were charged with various crimes, including extortion in a gang at night with a weapon and a discriminatory motive, computer fraud, theft with violence or threats, and intentional beatings and injuries, premeditated, with a discriminatory motive. They have appeared before the chambers, which extended their pre-trial detention for one month. A third person, who is underage, was placed in a closed community institution by the juvenile court.
In the interest of the investigation, the Public Prosecutor's Office has said it will not comment further for the time being.
It remains unclear whether the gang is linked to the two home invasions in Ixelles and in Schaerbeek more recently, in which victims had arranged a date via dating apps at their own home, but had instead been lured into a trap by criminals. Three people were arrested in connection to the fatal incident in Ixelles, while police brought in two other suspects linked to the most recent home invasion.
Earlier this week, the Brussels North police and the Public Prosecutor's Office urged anyone using dating apps or other meeting platforms to be vigilant. In the wake of the homophobic incidents, Grindr took action and added push notifications for Brussels Grindr users with a message that violent and homophobic set-ups have been reported in the city.
