A Belgian shopkeeper has died after suffering critical injuries while intervening to protect a woman who was allegedly subjected to racist and Islamophobic abuse on a tram in Brussels.

The victim, Driss Atouane, 54, died on Sunday after several days in hospital following the violent assault, which took place on July 23 aboard Tram 55 in the municipality of Evere.

According to Belgian broadcaster RTBF, the confrontation began when a man allegedly directed racist and anti-Muslim insults at a female passenger. Atouane, who owned a neighborhood supermarket in the Schaerbeek district and was well known in the local community, stepped in to defend the woman and attempted to calm the situation.

Witnesses said the suspect then turned on Atouane, repeatedly punching and kicking him in what local media described as an exceptionally violent attack. Emergency services transported him to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but doctors were unable to save him.

The Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed that police arrived at the scene within minutes and arrested the suspect shortly after the assault.

Prosecutors said the suspect has been placed under an arrest warrant while an investigating judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine his mental state. Authorities added that the investigation is continuing, with detectives reviewing surveillance footage and collecting witness statements to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

Belgian officials have not yet announced the final charges, but prosecutors indicated that all aspects of the case, including the alleged racist and Islamophobic motivation behind the incident, remain under examination.

The killing has prompted an outpouring of grief across Brussels, particularly in the Schaerbeek neighborhood, where Atouane had operated his supermarket for many years and was regarded as a respected member of the community.

Residents have also left flowers and messages of condolence outside Atouane's shop, while community organizations and anti-racism groups have paid tribute to his actions, describing him as a symbol of solidarity and humanity.

The tragedy has reignited debate in Belgium over rising incidents of racism, Islamophobia, and violence in public spaces. Civil society organizations have urged authorities to strengthen efforts to combat hate crimes, improve protections for victims, and ensure swift accountability for perpetrators of bias-motivated violence.

Many social media users have likewise hailed Atouane as a hero whose selfless intervention to protect another passenger ultimately cost him his life.

The investigation remains ongoing as Belgian authorities continue gathering evidence and determining the precise legal qualifications of the fatal assault. (ILKHA)