In an unsettling turn of events, terrorism charges have been raised following a shocking incident in Brussels where two Swedish nationals were shot dead and another injured. The attack led to the abrupt halting of the keenly watched Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier football match.
Brussels presently teeters on the edge of its highest terror alert as the armed gunman, reported as wielding an assault rifle, is still at large. French President Emmanuel Macron, then touring Albania, acknowledged the pan-European unrest stirred by the incident, succinctly remarking, “Europe has been shaken.”
An inquiry into this act of terror was promptly initiated by federal prosecutors. The assault took place on Boulevard d’Ypres, a mere three miles from the King Baudoin Stadium, the venue of the abandoned football match. Drawing attention to the persisting danger, Prosecutor Spokesperson, Eric van Duyse advised the public “to go home and stay at home as long as the threat has not been eradicated.”
A rather chilling revelation was the social media video of a man identifying as the attacker. He claimed his heinous act was motivated by the Islamic State group, further asserting that he had carried out this attack “in the name of God”, taking three lives in the process. Authorities are currently working on the verification of this video and others uploaded during the incident.
One such social media video showcased a fluorescent jacket-clad man alighting from a scooter. He was armed with what seemed to be an assault rifle and entered a nearby building enveloped in glass. He then proceeded to shoot at least one individual.
Post-shooting, the vicinity saw a flurry of activity as emergency services quickly cordoned off adjacent roads. Police later confirmed that the two fatalities were sporting football jerseys of the Swedish national team. As news of the attack reached the players, the Swedish footballers decidedly declined to proceed with the second half of the match, a decision supported by the Belgian team.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo expressed his condolences to the Swedish PM, labeling the assault a harrowing incident. He added, “Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones, as close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”
Furthermore, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earmarked her sympathies for the victims’ families while voicing her approval of the Belgian police’s swift action. She used this event to reiterate, “Together, we stand united against terror.”
