Two Swedish people were killed in Brussels, but the suspect is still at large.
The killing of two Swedish nationals on Monday in Brussels was deemed an act of terrorism by the Belgian government, which also increased police presence to prevent the suspect from crossing the border.
Alexander De Croo, the prime minister, called the attack “harrowing” and offered his sympathies to his Swedish counterpart. “As close partners, the fight against terrorism is a joint one,” he continued.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib expressed solidarity with Stockholm and stated that “Belgium and Sweden are united against terror.” In her final statement, Lahbib said that she was “horrified by the terrorist attack” that took place in the centre of Brussels and that “all necessary means must be mobilised to combat radicalism.”
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Around 7:15 local time, two people were shot and killed in the heart of Brussels. Police believe they were visiting Stockholm, Belgium, to support the Swedish national team. The Heysel Stadium’s ongoing Sweden-Belgium Euro 2024 qualifier was halted at halftime and the spectators were confined inside as a safety precaution.
Unverified video making the rounds on social media showed a guy stepping off a scooter and opening fire in the street while wearing a white helmet and an orange high visibility jacket. The gunman fired six more shots from his rifle before pursuing the civilians on the scooter into a nearby home.
According to eyewitnesses, the shooter said “Allahu Akbar” before starting to fire.
According to the news source Sudinfo, another online video depicts a bearded man in the same attire speaking Arabic and claiming he intends to kill “infidels” to “avenge the Muslims.” While the authorities have not yet formally confirmed or denied that the shooter was affiliated with the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS), Belgian media sources believe that he was.
