“No excuse for mass murder,” says Bourgeois in speech to parliament

“The terrorists clearly directed their attacks at what makes Paris what it is,” Bourgeois said, “at what defines our European culture: theatre, music, sport, cafe terraces, restaurants, people taking it easy, enjoying themselves, enjoying life. Our response has to be just as clear: The free world must not yield and must not go under in a wave of fear. If we give in to fear, the terrorists have won and have destroyed part of the soul of our society.”

Earlier, the parliament held a minute’s silence in remembrance of the victims of the attacks, which killed nearly 130 and injured many more. Joining the members of the parliament were representatives of the other regional and federal parliaments and the Committee of the Regions.

At the same time, in Paris, police were carrying out a raid in the Saint-Denis quarter in which Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the Brussels grocer’s son suspected of spearheading the attacks, was reported dead. The Paris prosecutor has not confirmed those reports.

Bourgeois paid tribute to the victims of the attacks in Paris, as well as the victims of IS “in the Middle East and other parts of the world”. He also praised Paris police and other first responders. But he called for a “powerful” response to the attacks: “The international community must put an end to this terror.”

A weaker social and economic position, he said, “can never – can never – be an excuse for mass murder or for terrorism. Our society offers a person a great many opportunities, equal rights and equal liberties. Let us never undermine the fundamental values of our free and pluralistic society. Let us work together for an inclusive society, building for a common future, together with everyone in Flanders, from whatever origins they come. Love will always win out over hate.”

Photo: Eric Lalmand/BELGA