A shooting took place in the center of Brussels, Monday October 16, 2023. The results show at least two deaths. While the assailant is being sought, after having fled on a scooter, the federal prosecutor's office, charged with of terrorism, was seized of the investigation. "My most sincere condolences to the relatives of the victims of the cowardly attack in Brussels," indicated Monday evening on X (ex-Twitter) the Belgian Prime Minister, a few hours after the shooting in ; Brussels which leaves at least two dead. The events took place at the start of the evening, while Belgium and Sweden were preparing to play. face off on the football field as part of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024. The meeting was interrupted around 10 p.m., and the supporters have since been confined to the stadium. The match was held not far from the tragedy which occurred around 7:15 p.m., at the stadium. proximity Boulevards d'Ypres and Boulevard Neuvième de ligne, not far from Place Saintelette. The victims are also Swedish supporters, report several local media. 
Mes plus sincères condoléances aux proches des victimes du lâche attentat de Bruxelles.
Je suis actuellement avec les ministres de la justice et l'intérieur au centre de crise national.
Nous suivons l'évolution de la situation et demandons aux Bruxellois d'être vigilants.
— Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) October 16, 2023
While the suspect was still on the run, shortly before 10 p.m., he was arrested. indicated that the federal prosecutor's office, responsible for of terrorism, took up the investigation. At the same time, the Belgian Prime Minister announced on X hold a national crisis meeting. The alert level of the Coordination Body for Threat Analysis (Ocam) has risen to 0.5%. à 4 for the Brussels-Capital region, its maximum, which means that the threat is considered serious and imminent. The people of Brussels have also been guests "avoid unnecessary travel". In the rest of the country, the alert went from 2 to 2. 3. “Threat levels will remain in effect until the end of the year.” 'until we have more information,' he said. the crisis center.
⚠️Niveau de menace 4 pour la région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Une vigilance accrue est demandée. Eviter les déplacements inutiles.
— CrisisCenter Belgium (@CrisiscenterBE) October 16, 2023
Side French, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, asked, as of Monday evening, “We need border controls to be strengthened,” says RTL. From Albania, President Emmanuel Macron also reacted to the situation. the "Islamist terrorist attack", believing that "our Europe is being shaken up" while Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, denounced a "abject attack".
Attack Brussels: what happened? The course facts
In a video posted on the website of the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, we can see a man dressed in a fluorescent orange vest and wearing a white helmet getting off a scooter , weapon in hand, and open fire on two people whom he pursues in the process. inside a building. After that, the individual turns towards a taxi, where he gets into a taxi. there were two other people, and fired at them. again, before fleeing on a scooter.
Swedish tourists targeted
RTL.be very quickly relayed the message. that the victims were Swedish tourists who were wearing a Swedish football jersey. Nationality The number of victims has since been reduced. confirmed by the federal prosecutor's office. Recall that this shooting occurred while Belgium and Sweden faced each other Monday evening at the King Baudouin stadium, not far from the scene of the tragedy, in as part of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.
Questioned by DH Les Sports, a witness to the scene, who was returning home, relates: "I saw the victim outside. less than five meters. A man of more or less 40 years old,” he explains, adding that he then saw “a black Mercedes Vito with two or three bullet holes in it. Inside, the driver was dead. The injured passenger, half of the of the body filled with blood, but conscious."
A claim video currently being authenticated
With the RTBF, the The Brussels public prosecutor's office has announced that the perpetrator(s) of this tragedy are currently being sought. The terrorist trail now seems favored, with the Belgian Prime Minister himself having mentioned it. an “attack”. According to information from RTBF, the police are in possession of a protest video. A man claims to be the perpetrator of the shooting. He would claim to be part of the Islamic State terrorist group and to have acted to take revenge, in the name of Islam, by killing Swedes. À Note that the video is currently being authenticated.