A large-scale police operation is currently underway in the notorious Peterbos district of Anderlecht, with several hundred officers present in the area.
Reports from various media outlets have been confirmed by police sources, although the local police force of Brussels South (Anderlecht/Sint-Gillis/Vorst) has yet to provide details and plans to communicate later.
The high-rise social housing area of Peterbos has long suffered from a poor reputation due to disturbances and crime resulting from rampant drug trafficking. Drug gangs from Marseille are reportedly dominating the area, attempting to expand their territory through violence if necessary. In December 2022, 30 individuals were sentenced to punishments ranging from community service of 225 hours to imprisonment of up to eight years for establishing a well-organised drug trade from the social housing blocks in the area.
Despite past interventions, organised drug trafficking continues to plague the district. In June 2024, 19 suspects were arrested in a drug investigation, yet the neighbourhood remains a hotspot for drug activity. Frequent violent clashes have occurred between the Peterbos-based organisation and rival drug gangs, with a spate of recent shootings in Brussels resulting in multiple fatalities.
On 7 February, a 54-year-old man was shot dead in the district by perceived members of one of the gangs involved.
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