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Harelbeke Bank Office Vandalised for 3rd Time, Windows Broken

Harelbeke (Eurotoday) – Around 5 a.m., on June 16, 2025, vandals attacked the BNP Paribas Fortis office on Gentsestraat, Harelbeke, spray-painting pro-Palestine slogans and breaking windows. Activists demand the bank cut ties with Israeli arms firms. Spokesperson: Jeroen Petrus.

According to a report by VRT news, this morning, June 16, 2025, around 5 a.m., a police patrol found that a bank office on Gentsestraat, Harelbeke, West Flanders, Belgium, had been attacked 3rd time. The front of the building was vandalized with spray-painted slogans, protesting against the war in Palestine.

The officials said these slogans, evidently political, covered part of the front wall, were a splash of would be noticed immediately because of their incendiary rhetoric, and also several windows of the building had been smashed. The police quickly secured the area and began an investigation.

Why was the Harelbeke BNP Fortis branch vandalised again?

A group of anonymous ‘activists’ has taken credit for the vandalism at the bank, BNP Paribas Fortis in Harelbeke. The group is blank”>demanding that the bank stop all financing and lending to Israeli arms companies immediately due to their alleged role in the current conflict in the Middle East. 

The group portrays the vandalism as a protest against organized crime. While the group does not identify its memberships, the tone and nature of the release indicates some organization. At the very least, the group appears to have developed a political agenda while directing its commentary toward institutions it believes are engaged in military operations within the regional context.

BNP Paribas Fortis says it doesn’t fund arms or have ties to the Middle East conflict. The bank strongly disagrees with the vandalism and said they care about their employees’ and customers’ safety. 

Spokesperson Jeroen Petrus said they reported the crime to the police. The Harelbeke branch will be closed today for cleaning and safety reasons. Authorities will be investigating the incident and seeking those responsible. The vandalism is a continuation of political acts which are happening throughout the country about the Palestinian situation.

This isn’t the first time the office has been targeted. In 2024, the same building was spray-painted with protest messages twice. Those times, it was just graffiti, with no damage. The broken windows show an increase in the attacks, making people worry about more aggression. 


Comments

9 responses to “Harelbeke Bank Office Vandalised for 3rd Time, Windows Broken”

  1. King Panther Avatar
    King Panther

    Looks like the Harelbeke branch of BNP Paribas Fortis is quite the popular spot for after-hours art exhibitions—who needs a gallery when you’ve got a spray can and a cause? 🖌️💥

  2. Another day, another shattered window at the Harelbeke bank – at this rate, they should just install a revolving door for the vandals. Honestly, who needs security when you can be part of a “political statement,” right? 😂

  3. Seems like the locals are really committed to making a statement—who knew breaking windows was the new way to have a civil discussion? 😏 Just hope the bank has good insurance, because this is starting to sound like a recurring feature on their balance sheet! 💸

  4. Eight Patrol Avatar
    Eight Patrol

    Looks like the local BNP Paribas has taken the phrase “break the bank” a bit too literally this time! Maybe they should consider installing a revolving door with all this traffic from ‘activists’ – at least it’ll save on window repairs. 😊💔

  5. magenta Avatar

    Seems like the Harelbeke BNP Fortis branch is just trying to set a record for “Most Creative Window Decorations”—who needs a fancy renovation when you’ve got activists with spray cans and a flair for drama? 😂

  6. Seems like the BNP Paribas Fortis in Harelbeke is just begging for some trendy new windows every few months. Who doesn’t love a good smash-and-spray session to spice up the Monday morning grind? 😂💥

  7. Girl Brownie Avatar
    Girl Brownie

    Is it really a protest if you have to break a few windows to get your point across? 🤔 At this rate, the bank should just hire a glass repairman on retainer! 🥴

  8. Swedish Twizz Avatar
    Swedish Twizz

    Another day, another round of window shopping at the Harelbeke bank—who knew the local art scene would take such a smashing turn? 🎨💔 Let’s hope the vandals have a better grasp on economics than they do on property rights!

  9. Looks like the local BNP office is really trying to win ‘Most Vandalized Bank of the Year’ – at this rate, they should just hire the vandals as interior decorators. 🏦💥 #ArtisticExpression

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