BRUSSELS — Belgian police are currently searching for a gunman who brutally killed two Swedes before disappearing into the night. The viciousness of the attack prompted authorities to cancel a Belgium-Sweden soccer match and keep 35,000 fans inside the stadium as a precautionary measure.
According to Eric Van Duyse, spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, the investigation is focusing on a potential terrorist motivation for the shooting after a claim of responsibility surfaced on social media.
Van Duyse said, “The individual claims to be inspired by Islamic State, with the Swedish nationality of the victims being cited as the likely motive.” In August, Sweden raised its terror alert level to the second-highest tier following several public Quran-burnings by an Iraqi refugee, which led to threats from Islamic militant groups.
Van Duyse also mentioned, “At this time, there is no indication of a possible link to the Israeli-Palestinian situation,” which provides minimal relief considering the heightened vigilance across Europe in fear of attacks related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In Belgium, the anti-terror center has set the capital’s terror alert to its highest level, indicating an extremely serious threat. The rest of the country is on alert level 2, denoting an average threat.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed his condolences, stating, “I have just offered my sincere condolences to Swedish Prime Minister following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels.” He emphasized the shared commitment to combating terrorism.
Regarding the soccer match, Van Duyse explained that “security measures were urgently implemented to safeguard the Swedish supporters” at the national stadium, which is near the location of the shooting.
More than two hours after the match was suspended, a message appeared on the stadium screen, informing the fans that they could calmly leave the stadium. Stand after stand emptied onto the streets where a large police presence continued the search for the gunman.
Caroline Lochs, a fan from Antwerp, described the prevailing emotions, “Frustrated, confused, scared. I think everyone was quite scared.” Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden acknowledged the incident as a “horrible shooting in Brussels,” while ensuring that the perpetrator is actively being pursued.
Amateur videos aired by media outlets captured the arrival of a man on a scooter wearing an orange fluorescent vest. The footage showed him swiftly retrieving a large weapon and opening fire on passersby. In addition to the two Swedes who lost their lives, a local taxi driver sustained injuries but was not in critical condition.
The attacker quickly fled the scene on his scooter as darkness descended, leaving behind a chilling sense of fear in its wake. Despite the relatively low casualty count compared to previous extremist attacks, the incident has reignited a deep sense of anxiety.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed her horror, stating, “Horrified at the indiscriminate killing in the heart of Brussels tonight. Terror and extremism have no place in our societies. People must feel safe. Hate will not prevail.”
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Associated Press writer Sam Petrequin contributed to this report.
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