Two explosive devices detonated in rapid succession outside residences in Antwerpen-Noord early Tuesday morning, damaging properties on Hollandstraat and Osystraat while leaving no injuries, according to local police reports. Authorities have linked both incidents and are investigating potential connections to the narcotics underworld, though no suspects have been apprehended yet.
Antwerp Explosions Linked to Missing Cocaine Cargo
The coordinated blasts target family members of Xavier P., a convicted drug criminal currently residing abroad, according to reporting by Gazet van Antwerpen. Graffiti left on a targeted facade points directly toward P. as the intended target of the violence. Sources within the criminal milieu indicate that the attacks stem from the theft of a massive cocaine shipment in early September. P. and two associates allegedly secured a warehouse in the southern outskirts of Antwerp to receive roughly 800 blocks of cocaine originating from Spain, which armed men subsequently raided and stole.
Investigation Into the Stolen Drug Shipment and Internal Leaks
Owners of the stolen narcotics suspect inside information guided the armed robbers straight to the warehouse, triggering a frantic search for a security breach among transport intermediaries, according to Gazet van Antwerpen. Enforcers recently detained and interrogated a young man from Hoboken before releasing him, while rumors also swirl around P. Regarding his current whereabouts, sources report P. is staying either in Turkey or further east in Central Asia. Frédéric Thiebaut, legal counsel for P., declined to comment on the recent explosions when contacted by the local newspaper.
The Skywalker Alias and Prior Criminal Convictions
Law enforcement initially zeroed in on P. after the encrypted communication network Sky ECC was cracked in March 2021. Investigators identified him using aliases such as “Skywalker,” “Disco,” “Kapoen,” and “The Jane,” where encrypted chats revealed coordination with corrupt port workers to extract drug containers, as detailed by Gazet van Antwerpen. In January of this year, a court sentenced P. to eight years in prison during the sprawling Hippix trial targeting large-scale cocaine imports through the Port of Antwerp, a case that also featured fugitive Jos “Bolle Jos” Leijdekkers. P. previously served a two-year sentence for involvement in a narcotics-related kidnapping.
Historical Context of Attacks on the Osystraat Residence
Tuesday’s blast marks the second time attackers have targeted the Osystraat property. On April 2, 2023, a heavy explosive device detonated at the exact same address, shattering windows across four neighboring streets and damaging roughly twenty homes alongside multiple vehicles. The courts subsequently convicted a 16-year-old boy from The Hague as the perpetrator, alongside a Dutch driver sentenced to four years in prison in March 2025 for transporting him to Antwerp.
Did you know?
The 2023 bombing at the same Osystraat address caused extensive structural damage to roughly 20 homes across four surrounding streets, demonstrating the severe collateral impact of underworld disputes in residential neighborhoods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were there any injuries reported in the Antwerpen-Noord explosions?
No injuries were reported, though the blasts on Hollandstraat and Osystraat caused material damage to the buildings.
Who is the target of the recent attacks?
According to Gazet van Antwerpen, the explosive devices and threatening graffiti target family members of Xavier P., who was convicted earlier this year in the Hippix drug trial.
Have police made any arrests regarding the blasts?
As of now, the Antwerp police have not arrested any suspects, but they are treating the incidents as connected to the narcotics environment.
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