The mayor of Anderlecht, Fabrice Cumps, is pleading for more police presence after a spate of shootings occurred in his municipality earlier this week.
In a statement released on Friday, Cumps urged both federal and local police to step up visible patrols across the entire Brussels Midi police zone, which covers Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles and Forest.
The request comes after a high-level security meeting involving headchefs of police and other mayors, including Charles Spapens (PS), mayor of Forest
Authorities have asked for a "significant reinforcement" of police presence in public spaces, alongside targeted operations such as road checks.
"No normalisation of the use of firearms can be tolerated in our neighbourhoods," the municipality said, stressing that all available police resources are being mobilised.
Cumps has also contacted Home Affairs Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) to request 'more blue in streets', a term coined by the Federal Government, meaning more police presence in certain sensitive areas of the capital.
Local officials are further pushing for stronger coordination between Brussels' six police zones to improve intelligence-sharing and operational response.
"All measures are being implemented to ensure a sustained and visible police presence, to restore a lasting sense of security across the Midi police zone, at all times," the statement concluded.
