A new shooting occurred in the Peterbos district of Anderlecht late Thursday night, resulting in one death, confirmed by Fabrice Cumps, the mayor of the Brussels commune, on RTBF Friday morning.
The Midi police zone (Anderlecht/Saint-Gilles/Forest) confirmed one person was killed in the shooting. It took place at block 14 of the large council estate in Peterbos.
"Shots were fired again last night in the commune, this time in the Peterbos district around 04:00," said police spokesperson Sarah Frederickx.
"One person, an unidentified man, has died. An investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances. The investigating judge and the scientific laboratory have visited the scene."
Police investigators pictured at the site of a shooting this morning in the Peterbos neighbourhood in Anderlecht, Brussels, Friday 7 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Speaking to Belga, Anderlecht Mayor Fabrice Cumps (PS) reiterated his call for adequate federal resources to be given to the Brussels Federal Judicial Police.
He emphasised that this is necessary to dismantle the criminal networks responsible for such acts of violence.
"A police patrol was present at the time of the incident, but it is merely a temporary solution," the Anderlecht mayor stated.
More 'blue' on the streets
Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) and Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) have spoken in favour of dispatching more police on the streets of Brussels in the short term.
At a conference on Friday morning with National Drugs Commissioner Ine Van Wymersch and Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil, the ministers argued that a holistic approach was necessary to tackle drug violence.
This entails a stronger police presence, more resources for the Federal Police and a targeting of the drug chain itself, from the producer to the consumer.
"The street belongs to the residents, not to the traffickers," said Quintin.
There will also be reinforced international coordination to prevent illegal arms sales. "It has become too easy to find weapons in Belgium," said Verlinden. "It is important to send out a signal: we're not leaving the streets to criminals who create a feeling of insecurity."
A police van pictured in the Peterbos neighbourhood in Anderlecht, Brussels, after a shooting on Friday 7 February 2025. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
Four shootings in three days
The incident follows three shootings the space of two days in Brussels this week: two in Anderlecht and one in Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode.
The series of shooting incident are being investigated as part of a wider drug gang feud.
One person was shot in the leg in the Clémenceau area (Anderlecht) on Thursday, while the latest shooting is in another area of the municipality.
On Wednesday, City of Brussels Mayor Philippe Close (PS) stated that he wanted to install "unity of command" to tackle the drug-related violence.
As of this Friday, the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone will be patrolling Anderlecht and the south of Brussels to assist with policing the municipalities in the Midi zone (Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles and Forest).
'Everyone must take responsibility'
Reacting to the shootings, Brussels MP Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) has called for a more coordinated approach to drug violence and says "the time of non-committal with a half-hearted approach is over. Everyone must take responsibility in this."
Dalle praised efforts by the Federal Government and local Brussels mayors to work together and welcomed the prospect of a police zone merger but criticised the lack of a proactive strategy.
Residents pictured near the Clemenceau metro station, which is closed off after a shooting on Thursday 06 February 2025 in Cureghem, Brussels. Credit: Belga
"What results have been achieved?" he said. "These fundamental questions remain unanswered by the Minister-President [Rudi Vervoort, ed.] to this day, while the Regional Security Council, which is supposed to ensure coordination, has barely met in recent months."
Groen has also called for better coordination as well as a National Security Council meeting, as the issue is not specific to Brussels, according to leader Bart Dhondt. "In the short term, the police force must be strengthened so that officers can work more effectively and ensure the safety of the people of Brussels," he added.
The far-right party Vlaams Belang has called for the army to be deployed to Brussels to "fight fire with fire". Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) had dismissed this possibility.
