Anti-American Knife Threat Sparks Panic

Waving American flag against a clear blue sky

American children were hunted on a Brussels train by a knife-wielding attacker targeting them for their nationality, only to have their mother’s desperate calls for help turned away by the U.S. Embassy because it was the weekend.

Story Snapshot

Two Alabama mothers and their 12-year-old daughters were chased through a Brussels train by a man wielding an 18-inch knife after he confirmed they were American
The attacker made anti-American threats including references to ICE and shooting capabilities before police arrested him
U.S. Embassy in Brussels allegedly refused weekend emergency assistance, citing passport-only policies despite threats against American children
Mother Amanda Hardy now advocates for emergency protocol changes to protect U.S. citizens abroad, especially children targeted for their nationality

Anti-American Attack on European Train

Amanda Hardy and another Alabama mother took their 12-year-old daughters to Brussels, Belgium, for a birthday celebration that turned into a nightmare. On a Brussels train, a man approached the group and asked if they were American. Upon confirmation, he unwrapped an 18-inch knife from a blue scarf and began threatening to kill them. The attacker made disturbing statements including “Do you like ICE?” and claimed he could shoot as well, turning what should have been a joyful family trip into a terrifying chase through train cars as the mothers and children screamed for help.

Weekend Embassy Abandonment

After escaping the train, Hardy immediately contacted the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, pleading for assistance as her child had been threatened specifically for being American. The response she received epitomizes bureaucratic indifference to citizen safety. Embassy staff allegedly told her it was the weekend and they generally do not provide assistance unless there is a passport issue. This response reveals a disturbing gap in our diplomatic services, where American children hunted by foreign attackers receive less priority than lost travel documents. The embassy’s after-hours line exists precisely for such emergencies, yet protocol apparently values paperwork over protecting our citizens from violent threats.

Diplomatic Failure Demands Reform

Brussels police eventually arrested the attacker, suspected of intoxication, but the damage to these families extends beyond the physical threat. Hardy stated clearly what many Americans already know: “There needs to be a review and a change of emergency protocol when it involves children. We have to do better.” Her advocacy highlights a fundamental question about what our embassies exist to do. When American children are targeted abroad specifically because of their nationality, embassy staff should mobilize immediately, not cite weekend policies. This incident underscores growing concerns about anti-American sentiment in Europe and whether our diplomatic infrastructure adequately protects citizens facing targeted violence.

Rising Risks for Americans Abroad

The Brussels attack fits a troubling pattern of violence against Americans in European cities. U.S. Embassy alerts in Brussels regularly warn citizens about protests and public safety risks, advising low-profile behavior and crowd avoidance. The explicit anti-American motivation in this case, combined with the attacker’s references to U.S. immigration enforcement, suggests ideological hatred fueled by leftist European media narratives about American policies. Hardy’s daughters will carry the trauma of being hunted for their nationality while their own government offered bureaucratic excuses instead of protection. This failure demands immediate State Department review of emergency protocols to ensure no American child abroad ever hears again that weekend hours matter more than their safety.