Police Shoots Man in Hunt for Gunman

Police in Brussels have shot a man suspected of killing two Swedish nationals on Monday evening.

Report says, the man was shot in a café in the Schaerbeek neighbourhood, and it is unclear if he is dead.

Two Swedes were killed and a third person injured in the automatic rifle attack on Monday, which took place during the Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier football match.

Brussels has been on its highest terror alert ever since.

The gunman is believed to be a 45-year-old man of Tunisian origin who was in Belgium illegally, after having his asylum application rejected.

He posted a video online saying he had killed people in the name of God and the prosecutor’s office believed he was inspired by the Islamic State Group.

Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden told Flemish public broadcaster VRT that the automatic weapon found on him was the same as the one used in Monday’s attack.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, called Monday’s shooting “a harrowing act of terrorism” in a press conference on Tuesday. It took place on Boulevard d’Ypres, some 5km (3 miles) from the King Baudoin Stadium.

The prosecutor on the case has said the likely motive was the Swedish nationality of the victims.

Mr De Croo said: “Perpetrators, they try to instil fear, distrust and division in our free societies. Terrorism. Terrorists must understand that they will never succeed in their intent.”

BBC/Opeyemi Babalola

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *