BRUSSELS/OSLO (Aftenposten): An alleged perpetrator claimed that he was a member of IS. According to the Belgian Minister of the Interior, he is supposed to be dead.
The perpetrator has an orange jacket. Photo: Twitter
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Published: 16/10/2023 21:26 | Updated: 17/10/2023 09:01
The short version
Two Swedes have been killed in Brussels, and the threat level has been raised to the highest level. The alleged perpetrator claims to be a member of IS and, according to Belgian TV, was shot in a cafe on Tuesday morning. The shooting took place close to a soccer match between Belgium and Sweden, which was interrupted. 700 Swedish spectators were evacuated. The alleged perpetrator has posted a video. He claimed in it to have “avenged Muslims” and “killed Swedes”.
The summary is created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and quality assured by Aftenposten’s journalists.
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On Tuesday morning, Belgian TV reported that the man had been shot by the police in a cafe. The Belgian Minister of the Interior tells the TV channel VRT that he must have died on the way to the hospital.
Belgian authorities have raised the threat level to the highest level, after two Swedes were killed in Brussels. A third was seriously injured.
The shooting happened on Monday evening, not far from a football match between Belgium and Sweden.
After the break, the international match was stopped. The Swedish players decided that they would not continue the match due to the shooting. 700 Swedes in the stadium were evacuated between midnight and 2am, according to Belgian media.
The police confirm that two people have been killed. The two victims were dressed in Swedish supporter gear. A third person is said to have been seriously injured, but his life is not in danger. This latest victim is also said to be a Swede.
It was at 7.15pm on Monday evening that the police were informed of the shooting at Saincteletteplein in Brussels.
Disappeared on a scooter
A witness filmed the perpetrator, who was dressed in a fluorescent orange jacket and white helmet. He had what the witness describes as a “weapon of war”. Other witnesses claim it was a Kalashnikov, AK47.
The video shows the perpetrator firing at least five shots before chasing several people into a building. There he fires several shots. Out on the street again, he fires one last shot before getting on a scooter and disappearing.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo asked on Twitter/X Brussels residents to be careful.
Pointing towards Islamists
The alleged perpetrator has posted a video on Facebook. There he claims that he is a member of IS. Aftenposten has seen the video. According to the newspaper The standard he speaks Arabic with a Tunisian accent.
He claims that he has killed three infidels. According to Swedish media, he further says that he has “avenged Muslims” and “killed Swedes”.
Sweden has received a lot of attention recently after demonstrations in which the Koran was burned. It is too early to say whether it has any connection with the murders.
“Like it or not, we live and die for our faith. I go with joy to God, if I have done something wrong, he will forgive me,” he says in the video.
Witnesses reportedly said that “Allahu Akbar” was shouted during the attack. None of these claims have been confirmed by the authorities.
The terror threat in Brussels has been raised to four, which is the highest level. In the rest of Belgium it has been raised to level three.
On Monday evening, the Swedish security police also raised the terror level to “high”.
Bea Saleymane was as if frozen, before a man told him to get away. Photo: Rakel Haugen Strand
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Heard shots
Bea Saleymane (20) lives close to the crime scene. A couple of hours after the attack, he was still shaking.
– I saw the perpetrator enter the building, and he shot. When I saw someone lying on the floor, I understood that this was really serious, he tells Aftenposten.
– I was as if I was frozen solid, until someone came and said I had to get away, he continues.
According to Belgian media, a large police operation was underway to find suspects. Photo: Sylvain Plazy, AP / NTB
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Confirms that there are Swedish victims
The police confirm that the two victims are Swedes. according to The last news it concerns two football supporters. On Tuesday morning, Belgian police announced that the third victim is also Swedish.
Several people are said to have been injured in the shooting incident.
The incident happened just 5 kilometers from the arena where Sweden played a qualifying match against Belgium on Monday evening.
The match between Belgium and Sweden was stopped for half-time. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP / NTB
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2023-10-17 06:56:15
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