Brussels: Responding to violence with love

Published on March 23, 2016

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After the attacks on Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station in Brussels, crowds have gathered in the city centre to light candles, and lay down flowers and Belgian flags. Using coloured chalk scrawled on walls and pavements, they express their hopes for peace. Our photojournalist, Valentina Cala, is in Place de la Bourse.

Just as was the case after the Paris attacks, people gathered together in a public place to express solidarity with the victims of the attacks and their families At the Brussels stock exchange on Place de la Bourse, city dwellers express their emotion Many members of the muslim community also came to pay their respects... ...as did crowds of journalists from all over the world The pavements were turned into a carpet of flowers, candles and flags People in the crowd pull together, for example by helping each other get home Place de la Bourse The Belgian flag is regularly on display... ...becoming a symbol of solidarity with the victims of the attacks... ...as well as one of hope and courage. On the city's walls and pavements people scrawl messages of support in coloured chalk Many of the slogans call for love and reconciliation "I have seen today messages of love, generosity, compassion and hope - never hate" ---