Brussels — The Brussels employment agency Actiris has lodged a formal complaint against four YouTubers who infiltrated the Iris Tower and Astro Tower, scaling their rooftops to highlight alleged security vulnerabilities.
The YouTubers, identified as DielsMK, arthurito_go, mattis_explore, and p3rceptual, documented their exploits in videos that quickly gained attention online.
The incident, which involved climbing the 137-metre-tall Iris Tower and the 107-metre-tall Astro Tower, raised significant security concerns for Actiris, which is headquartered in the Astro Tower.
In response, the agency has initiated an investigation to determine how the men managed to access restricted areas of the buildings so easily.
Nora Ed-Daoui, a spokesperson for Actiris, confirmed the complaint, emphasizing the seriousness of the security breach. “We are investigating how they managed to reach the roof,” Ed-Daoui stated. “We are analysing to understand what went wrong and making necessary security adjustments.”
She explained that the public nature of the building might have contributed to the ease of access but stressed the need for enhanced security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
DielsMK, one of the YouTubers involved, defended the actions, stating that the primary objective was to expose security flaws, not to cause harm or disruption.
“We did this to show how easy it is for anyone to access these areas. The goal was to raise awareness about the lack of security,” he explained in a follow-up video addressing the backlash.
The other YouTubers echoed this sentiment, insisting that their actions were intended to prompt security improvements rather than to encourage similar stunts.
The videos, however, have sparked a mixed response from the public, with some praising the exposure of potential risks while others criticized the method as reckless and illegal.
Legal experts suggest that the YouTubers could face charges ranging from trespassing to endangering public safety, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Belgian law imposes strict penalties for unauthorized access to private or restricted areas, particularly in buildings housing government or public agencies.
The incident has also reignited the debate over the responsibilities of social media influencers and the limits of so-called “urban exploration.” Critics argue that such actions, while highlighting security gaps, could inspire copycat attempts with potentially dangerous consequences.
Meanwhile, security analysts have called for a comprehensive review of the protocols at both the Iris Tower and Astro Tower, particularly regarding access points and surveillance.
Suggestions include increasing the number of security personnel, enhancing monitoring systems, and restricting access to rooftop areas more effectively.
As the investigation continues, Actiris has assured the public that immediate steps are being taken to reinforce security and prevent further breaches.
However, the broader implications of the incident — both for security policy and for the accountability of content creators — remain a subject of heated discussion.
