Bloody attack: He rushed into the crowd and stabbed people one by one, while police watched helplessly VIDEO

The attack occurred during a protest near the busy Operaplein square on Thursday evening.

The incident took place during a pro-Kurdish gathering at Opera Square, where Kurdish flags were displayed.

Around 50 participants attended the protest, and police were already present to monitor the event, which remained largely peaceful for most of the evening. As the demonstration was nearing its end, at around 7:20 p.m., the situation suddenly escalated.

According to police reports, a stabbing then took place, after which officers immediately intervened and called for emergency medical teams.

In the meantime, police have arrested two suspects and launched an investigation. Four of the injured were found at the square itself, while the fifth and sixth victims were discovered in nearby streets.

Terrorist attack?

The Kurdish organization Nav-bel described the incident as a "terrorism-motivated attack on the Kurdish community in Antwerp," which took place shortly after a protest against what they called jihadist attacks on Kurds in northern Syria.

A spokesperson for the organization, Orhan Kiliç, said the attack was "similar to jihadist attacks that deliberately target civilians in the streets, Christmas markets, and other public places."

Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria (SDF) have lost a significant portion of the territory they had controlled over the past ten years, which they had captured in the fight against the Islamic State, earlier this month.