In the evening of 6 August 2015, an inebriated beggar attacked a passerby on Avenue de la Gare in Luxembourg City after attempting to mug the woman in question.
The beggar, who was reported by the Grand Ducal Police to have been under the influence of alcohol, attempted to grab the handbag of a female passerby, resulting in a struggle between the two. As the woman fought back, the beggar used his crutch to strike her.
The lady was injured in the incident, and the perpetrator was arrested and written up.
The incident came at a significant time politically for the country, as it coincided with an angry open letter sent to the Mayor of Luxembourg City by Luxembourgish lawyer Gaston Vogel. In his letter, Vogel lamented the presence of beggars in the City centre, claiming to Mayor Lydie Polfer that "the benches that you made available to walkers are instead occupied by these sinister individuals who leave them in such a desolate state that it kills any desire to stop by them".
In response, Mayor Polfer released a statement saying that it was important to differentiate between 'organised begging' and 'necessary begging', saying, "It seems to me that although the facts mentioned in the open letter do pose real problems, a much more nuanced approach, which respects the dignity of vulnerable people, is required."
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