Attack on Polish consulate in Brussels: Red paint, offensive slogans

The Polish consulate in Brussels was targeted in an early-morning attack, with the building’s façade defaced with red paint, offensive slogans, and human waste, officials confirmed.

According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Maciej Wewiór, the slogans had a political character and were aimed at Poland’s security and that of the European Union, Caliber.Az reports per Polish media. 

“The matter has been immediately reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation,” he said.

The incident occurred at around 3 a.m. on December 18, coinciding with a key European Union summit on financing for Ukraine. Doors, walls, and the Polish national emblem were covered in red paint. On an information board identifying the building as the Polish consulate, the word “Killers” was spray-painted in English. A vulgar phrase was also scrawled on the external wall, and human waste was scattered at the entrance.

Consulate staff indicated that the attack may be linked to ongoing political tensions. One anonymous official suggested the act could be a Russian provocation or an attempt to sow uncertainty, noting that it appeared to relate to protests over the border wall with Belarus and the EU border agency Frontex.

Belgian police have launched an investigation, reviewing surveillance footage that shows three to four masked individuals vandalising the building, with one recording the event on a mobile phone. Patrols in the area are set to increase.

The local municipality of Etterbeek, where the consulate is located, provided rapid support. A specialist cleaning firm removed the graffiti within hours, leaving no visible trace of the attack.

This is not the first time Polish diplomatic buildings have been targeted. In May 2022, the Polish embassy in Moscow was defaced with red paint, reportedly in response to a protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In August this year, a demonstration in support of Palestine resulted in a broken window and red paint being poured over the entrance of the MFA in Warsaw.

By Aghakazim Guliyev