Two people were killed and at least one person was injured when a man opened fire with an automatic weapon near the Sainctelette square in central Brussels on Monday evening.
The Belgian prosecutor’s office tells the Reuters news agency that two Swedes were killed. The authority also states that the motive was that the victims were Swedes.
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press service states early on Tuesday morning that they cannot yet confirm the information about two Swedes.
“The government office and the police are currently working hard to get more information about what happened. We will get back to you as soon as we have more information about what happened,” writes the Foreign Ministry’s press service in an email to TT.
Previously accused
The perpetrator, who was dressed in an orange jacket and helmet and is in his 40s, was chased by police during the night. As of three o’clock in the morning, no one had been arrested.
The man is said to be from Tunisia and has previously been accused of terrorist crimes there, states several sources for the public service company RTBF.
The informants also allege that he is staying in Belgium without permission.
During the night, the police had an ongoing operation in the area of Schaerbeek, which is part of the Brussels region, where he is said to live.
A film has also been circulated on social media in which a man claims to belong to the terrorist movement IS and is out to “revenge Muslims”.
The shooting occurred at 7:15 p.m. local time, about an hour and a half before Sweden’s European football qualifier against Belgium in Brussels. Several media outlets state that at least one of the two people who was shot dead was wearing a Swedish national team shirt.
High threat level
In a video, the man who is suspected of the crime stated that he shot three Swedes. In addition to the two people who were shot to death, a third person was injured, but according to RTBF it is a taxi driver who is described as slightly injured.
After the crime, the terror threat level in Brussels was raised to the highest, four, and security was tightened both around the King Baudouin Stadium and inside central Brussels.
During Monday evening, sirens rang out over central Brussels. The atmosphere was tense but the streets deserted, apart from large numbers of police. The assassination site and several blocks around it were cordoned off.
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges Swedes to keep up-to-date on developments in Brussels. Swedes on site are also encouraged to contact relatives and sign up for the “Swedish list”, where Swedes abroad can provide contact details.
2023-10-17 03:43:27
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