A suspect has been detained in connection with the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man in Saint-Gilles, Brussels, on 14 February, according to the public prosecutor’s office.
The suspect was arraigned last Monday and his pretrial detention has been extended by a month.
On the day of the incident, shots were heard around 05:52 at Jacques Franck square. The victim, Badreddine Jammal, who was allegedly indulged in illegal drug trafficking in and around the square, was killed by three men who later escaped towards the Porte de Hal.
This was at least the fourth shooting in the area in just a few days. The first occurred on Lacaille Street on 11 February, injuring two people.
On 13 February, around 14:00, gunshots were heard on Jacques Franck square. Although no one was injured, in their escape, the perpetrators knocked down a woman and collided with several vehicles.
And, on the night of 14 February, a store on Boulevard du Midi was targeted in another shooting at around 01:30 a.m., but no injuries were reported.
Authorities believe Jammal’s death was in retaliation for the shooting earlier that night.
These incidents are understood to be part of an ongoing turf war between drug-trafficking gangs.
