Belgium in Brief: Brussels in high state of alert after fatal terror attack

Belgium in Brief: Brussels in high state of alert after fatal terror attack
Credit: Belga

Not for the first time in recent years has the Belgian capital become the site of a terror incident costing the lives of bystanders.

On Monday night Sweden's national football team were playing Belgium in a Euro 2024 qualifier match in Brussels' Roi Badouin stadium. As fans were making their way to the game, two supporters of the Swedish side wearing their team's jerseys became the target of a gunman who chased them into a building in the city's Northern quarter shooting an assault rifle.

Videos posted on social media networks depicted the man leaving the scene on a moped. The attacker later posted a video in which he claimed to be serving Islamic State. He talked of "murdering infidels" and "avenging the Muslims".

With the city on high alert, police launched a manhunt that continued through the night until the suspect was identified soon after 08:00 on Tuesday morning in a café. He was shot by police and pronounced dead after being transferred to hospital.

Whilst the motives are not yet clear, prominent theories link the attack to the burning of Qurans in Sweden – an inflammatory act that took place on several occasions during the summer and triggered protests and revenge attacks, notably against Sweden's embassy in Baghdad which was stormed and set alight in July.

In Brussels the terror alert level remains at 4 (the highest level) though ministers decided not to deploy soldiers onto the streets. The alert level will be assessed soon this afternoon. France went into a state of emergency on Friday after a teacher was stabbed to death by a former pupil turned Islamist extremist.

Belgium's neighbour tightened its border controls following the attack in Brussels though flights from Belgium continue. Meanwhile investigators remain unsure whether the perpetrator acted alone.

Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:

1. Two dead after terror attack in central Brussels

Two people have died following a shooting on Monday evening in Brussels, near Place Sainctelette. Shots were fired at around 19:15 next to Boulevard d'Ypres. Read more.

2. Brussels terror suspect shot dead in Schaerbeek café

On Tuesday morning, Belgian police received a call that Abdeslam Lassoued (45), suspected of shooting two dead in central Brussels, was sitting at a café in Schaerbeek. Read more.

3. Swedish fans left Roi Baudouin stadium at 04:00 following terror attack

The last Swedish fans left the King Baudouin stadium around 04:00 on Tuesday morning following the terror attack in Brussels on Monday night, the Swedish Football Federation has said. Read more.

4. Belgium must cut budget by €2.7 billion next year to comply with EU rules

Belgium must cut its budget by a staggering €2.7 billion next year to comply with EU fiscal rules, a recent analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has shown. Read more.

5. Belgium's Muslim Council condemns deadly Brussels attack, pledges to confront extremism

The Muslim Council of Belgium quickly condemned the Brussels terrorist attack on Monday evening that claimed two lives. Read more.

6. Brussels Region looking into using underground waste containers

The Brussels Waste Agency is studying the feasibility of the widespread use of underground waste containers in the Belgian capital. Read more.

7. 'We cannot confirm perpetrator acted alone': Interior Minister on Brussels terror attack

The perpetrator of Monday night's terror attack in Brussels may not have acted alone, with reports in various Belgian newspapers suggesting police may be searching for a second suspect. Read more.


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