Two people died and many were injured in a shooting that occurred shortly after 19:00 near Saintelette Square and Ypres Boulevard in Brussels.
Police sources quoted by regional media indicate a man shouted a phrase and opened fire with a Kalashnikov-type rifle. He wore a helmet and reflective vest and fled on a motorcycle after the attack.
Journalistic outlets reported that two of the victims were Swedish citizens who were wearing the jerseys of the Swedish national team. The incident occurred as a scheduled football match between Belgium and Sweden was about to kick off that afternoon.
A spokesman from Belgium’s National Crisis Center, Antoine Iseux, said that the Threat Analysis Coordination Board upgraded the Brussels-C capital region to the highest level and the rest of the country to a high but slightly lower level. He confirmed that the investigation was being treated as a terrorist incident.
Video footage captured by a witness and circulated online shows a lone man arriving on a small motorcycle, bringing the vehicle to a stop, and firing rapidly on the street with a large-caliber firearm.
The attacker, seen wearing a bright orange jacket and a white helmet, first targeted the two dead people in a taxi who were wearing Swedish team jerseys. He then moved on to chase several others, firing at people seeking shelter near the Flemish Housing Fund building and at a bystander who had taken cover. He eventually escaped on his motorcycle.
Reports indicate the attacker’s jacket matched the attire worn by municipal cleaning staff in Brussels.
Some witnesses said the assailant shouted the same phrase during the shootings.
The alleged attacker, Slayem Slouma, later released a video on social media claiming allegiance to a militant organization and boasting of actions against perceived enemies.
In his statements, he declared that two people had been shot and that he would act in the name of his beliefs, signaling a willingness to continue violence.
Emergency services and police units, including specialized teams, have been mobilized to locate the suspect.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and officials from the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Justice visited the National Crisis Center that evening, where Brussels mayor Philippe Close was present, to monitor the evolving situation.
Belgium-Sweden European Cup qualifiers postponed at halftime
The attack forced officials to halt the Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden in Brussels at halftime, with the match level at 1-1.
The scoreline had seen Viktor Gyökeres put Sweden ahead in the 15th minute and Romelu Lukaku equalize for Belgium in the 31st minute, before the decision to pause the game was announced by UEFA.
Local media reported that, during halftime, the Swedish Football Association president was evacuated from the stadium as a precaution, with both teams informed of the situation.
Swedish players reportedly declined to restart the match, and the Red Devils’ request to pause the contest was subsequently granted. Spectators and journalists remained inside the stadium as security procedures continued.