A judicial investigation for attempted murder has been launched by the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office after a man was found injured on Rue Neuve in Brussels on Tuesday.
Initially reported as a firework incident by the local police, authorities now state the man was struck in the head by an unidentified projectile.
The incident occurred around 12:30 in front of a clothing store near Rue du Pont Neuf, opposite the MediaMarkt location on Rue Neuve. Witnesses say the man had been selling perfume on the street.
"We suddenly heard an explosion and saw someone lying on the ground," witnesses reported, adding that several individuals were seen running towards Boulevard du Jardin Botanique.
The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition by an ambulance and emergency medical team, but his condition is no longer life-threatening.
"The man was hit in the head by an unknown projectile," the prosecutor’s office stated on Wednesday.
A forensic doctor has been appointed to examine the injuries, and an examining magistrate has been called in for attempted murder. The suspect fled on foot and is currently being tracked. The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.
