A video posted on YouTube showed several young men on the roofs of two iconic Brussels skyscrapers. However, one of the daredevils claims the footage is fabricated.
The 23-minute YouTube video posted on 23 February by influencer DielsMK – who has 287,000 subscribers and is known for his hoaxes filmed in Brussels – shows four young daredevils (DielsMK and three Instagram 'influencers' who regularly climb buildings illegally) infiltrating the Iris Tower and Astro Tower, both in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.
The group slipped past security and managed to enter both towers. Without safety equipment, they climbed to the roofs performed stunts. On the Iris Tower, they climbed the building's spires. The video was viewed 67,000 times in the space of four days but was taken off the platform on Friday morning, La Dernière Heure reported.
The Astro tower in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode. Credit: Belga / Thierry Roge
The Iris Tower near Botanique is 137 metres high. It houses the Brussels Regional Public Service (GOB), among others. It did not find any traces of vandalism, but did call the stunts "irresponsible".
"We take this situation very seriously and strongly condemn these irresponsible actions," said Julie Fiszman, GOB's Secretary General, La Libre reported. "The video clearly shows that the intruders endangered not only their safety but also that of others to collect views and likes." It has taken additional safety measures and will analyse the video to identify any weaknesses in the security system.
The Astro Tower near Madou is 107 metres high, and houses the Brussels employment agency Actiris. It will take similar steps as the GOB. Both the GOB and Actiris will file complaints for their respective towers. DielsMK already has another case pending against him for assault and battery, harassment and violation of image rights in the context of other videos.
Credit: @arthurito_go
It is unclear when the young men infiltrated the buildings. One of the young men in the video, whose Instagram handle is @arthurito_go, posted a picture of himself on the Astro Tower on 6 February.
The video contains a disclaimer stating that the images are completely fictitious and were created using artificial intelligence and avatars. "The production accepts no responsibility in the event of misinterpretation. Under no circumstances should you try to repeat what is shown." However, there is little doubt about the authenticity, as the quartet was seen on security cameras.
The young men are no novices when it comes to their dangerous behaviour. Their social media accounts show them displaying similar stunts on the dome of the Koekelberg Basilique and other Brussels buildings, as well as in Paris and New York.
