BRUSSELS – Two Swedish citizens were killed by shooting in Brussels, while a football match between Belgium and Sweden was going to take place, the police announced. Belgium raised the level of preparedness against terrorism to its highest level.
A man in a video on social media claimed to be the perpetrator of the attack and to belong to the Islamic State.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on social media platform X that the victims were Swedish, but did not confirm their number. The attacker, who called himself Abdesalem Al Guilani and said he is a fighter for Allah, said there were three victims, not two.
Police investigators surrounding the area where the gun attack took place (Brussels, October 16, 2023)
“I have just offered my most sincere condolences to the Swedish Prime Minister for tonight’s horrific attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels,” Belgian Prime Minister de Croo said.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost loved ones. As close partners, the fight against terrorism is a common fight,” he said.
A Belgian newspaper said the victims were likely to be sports fans. Belgium was playing at home against Sweden for the qualifying stage of the Euro 2024 championship. The match was stopped during the break after the first half, due to security reasons. UEFA announced that it will provide further information.
The Belgium-Sweden match was suspended after the first half (October 16, 2023)
The shooting comes at a time of high security concerns in several European countries, due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. France is deploying 7,000 troops to its streets after a teacher was stabbed to death on Friday in an attack President Emmanuel Macron condemned as “barbaric Islamic terrorism”.
A Belgian police spokesman confirmed on Monday that two people had been killed in a shooting incident near the center of the Belgian capital, but declined to give further details.
A spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office, which is handling the case, also initially declined to provide any details about the victims, or any possible motive. Afterwards, the prosecution said that there were 2 victims and one injured from a gun attack.
Police evacuating people from the area around the stadium in Brussels (October 16, 2023)
Footage published on the website of the newspaper “Het Laatste Nieuws” shows a man in an orange jacket on a scooter at a street intersection, with a rifle, from which first two shots can be seen, followed by three more. He then runs towards a building, fires two more times, and as he starts to walk away, takes a few steps back and fires the gun once more.
A Belgian newspaper said a witness heard the attacker shout “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire.
France is tightening border controls with Belgium after the deadly attack in Brussels, Belgian media said.
Belgium’s crisis center warned the public not to make any unnecessary trips to the capital.