Family Urges Calm After Fatal Gang Fight in Belgian Town of Zaventem

"After the death of Saad on Friday in Zaventem, some young people are calling to avenge his tragic death. We, the family and close friends, do not wish and do not support any revenge, under any pretext. We call for calm and peace so that we can mourn," the young man’s family said in a message posted on a Facebook group.

The family asks young people "from all backgrounds" not to "take advantage of this incident to express [their] anger, because we as a family know what it means to lose a child in horrible circumstances." "Dear parents, call your children to you and bring them back to reason. Let’s use this event as a warning and remain calm," the family advises.

This message follows calls for retaliation launched on social media after the tragedy on Friday. In addition to Saad B. who lost his life in these clashes, a 16-year-old young man from Brussels was seriously injured.