In a tragic incident on Monday evening, two lives were taken by a shooter in close proximity to the center of Brussels. Belgium’s foreign minister has strongly condemned this horrifying act as a “terrorist attack.”
Law enforcement officials reported that gunshots rang out in the vicinity of Place Sainctelette and Boulevard du Neuvième de Ligne shortly after 7 p.m., prompting immediate dispatch of patrols to the area.
The Brussels police spokesperson, Ilse Van de Keere, confirmed the loss of two lives in this distressing event.
At this time, specific details surrounding the incident remain limited. She stated, “The investigation is ongoing,” signifying that authorities are actively working to uncover more information.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said: “My deepest condolences to the relatives of this cowardly attack in Brussels. We are monitoring the situation and ask the people of Brussels to be vigilant.”
He added that he had passed on his condolences to Sweden’s prime minister “following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens.” Sweden is playing Belgium in an international football match at the national stadium in northern Brussels.
Belgian’s Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said she was “horrified” by the “terror attack,” adding, “All necessary means must be mobilized to combat radicalism,” Lahbib wrote on X.
A spokesperson for the Belgian National Crisis Center — charged with organizing the security response in case of a terror attack — said it was monitoring the situation.
Belgium’s Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne and De Croo are currently at the National Crisis Center, near the prime minister’s office in the Belgian capital, the spokesperson added.
“Terrible shooting in Brussels,” Verlinden wrote on X, adding that the suspected shooter was being tracked down by police.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said: “Following the shooting in Brussels, the police services are mobilizing to guarantee safety in and around our capital” in collaboration with Verlinden’s ministry.
