Brussels shooting live: Swedes abroad warned of terror attacks after country becomes ‘target among jihadists’
Swedish PM said Monday night’s attack in Brussels was “aimed at Sweden and Swedish citizens”.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called on the European Union to bolster border controls and internal security after a gunman killed two Swedes in Brussels on Monday.
A 45-year-old Tunisian terror suspect opened fire and killed two Swedish football fans. He died on Tuesday after being shot by police in a cafe.
Footage shared online showed a man dressed in an orange jacket unloading several shots, using a large weapon. The bearded man was reportedly seen leaving the crime scene on a scooter.
After the shooting suspect Abdesalem Lassoued posted a video on Facebook about the killings, claiming he was a member of Islamic State (IS) and had killed “three Swedes so far”.
“All indications are that this is a terror attack aimed at Sweden and Swedish citizens only due to them being Swedish,” Kristersson told a news conference.
Sweden raised its terror alert to its second-highest level in August after Koran burnings and other acts in Sweden against Islam’s holiest text outraged Muslims and the government warned that the country had become a priority target among jihadists.
Sweden’s embassies urged nationals to exercise increased vigilance abroad while Swedes at home voiced concerns about safety.
Suspect ‘claimed to be a member of Isis’
Dutch-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) reported that the gunman had released a video on Facebook in which he claimed to be a member of Isis.
He said he had shot people to “avenge the Muslims”.
The suspected perpetrator is from Schaerbeek – a municipality in Belgium – and is believed to be “radicalised”, HLN added.
In a video posted on social media, a man identifying himself as the attacker said “he was inspired by the Islamic State”, the spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office, Eric Van Duyse, said on the LN24 news channel.
Eyewitness describes horror of Brussels attack
An eyewitness has described being frozen in shock at the moment the gunman discharged his weapon.
Speaking with the Belgian LN24 channel, the witness who was identified as Sulayman said: “I stood there frozen, I didn’t move. I was shocked by what happened, even now I am still in shock. It was a man who came, pushed me, told me to start running if I wanted to stay alive.”
Meanwhile, Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said: “The heart of Europe is hit by violence. My heart goes out to the families of the victims of the deadly attack in the centre of Brussels.”
Swedish prime minister urges Swedes in Belgium to stay ‘vigilant’
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson urged Swedes in Belgium to be vigilant after the attack by a gunman left two Swedes dead.
Mr Kristersson was quoted as saying by the Swedish TT news agency: “The Swedes on the ground are asked to be vigilant and to follow the instructions of the Belgian authorities with attention. My thoughts tonight are with the dead, the wounded and their loved ones.”
Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom wrote on X/Twitter: “Devastated by the news of two Swedish football supporters murdered in Brussels tonight and a third person being seriously wounded. All my thoughts are with their families and loved ones.”
He assured that the Swedish authorities are “working closely with their Belgian partners to find the murderer”.
Police and lawmakers try to assuage residents’ fears after attack
The city’s mayor Philippe Close posted on X: “Following the shooting in Brussels, police services are mobilising to guarantee safety in and around our capital, in collaboration with the minister of the interior. I am at the crisis centre… to ensure coordination.”
Belgium’s prime minister Alexander De Croo also expressed his condolences to the relatives of the shooting victims. He wrote on X: “My deepest condolences to the relatives of this cowardly attack in Brussels. I am closely following the situation, together with the ministers of justice and home affairs from [the Belgian Crisis Centre]. We are monitoring the situation and ask the people of Brussels to be vigilant.”
The suspect is still at large, hours after the attack.
Watch: Emergency services at scene of Brussels shooting
‘Horrified by the terrorist attack’, says Belgian foreign minister
The country is in shock after a gunman with “suspected terrorist motives” shot dead two Swedes in Brussels.
“Horrified by the terrorist attack that claimed two victims in the heart of Brussels,” Belgian foreign minister Hadja Lahbib posted on X/Twitter.
“All necessary means must be mobilized to combat radicalism. Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and our police forces,” she added.
Soon after the attack, the terror threat level for Brussels was raised to 4 — the highest level. Belgium was previously level 2.
Football fans put on lockdown inside Belgium stadium before evacuation
Emmanuel Macron: ‘Europe has been shaken’
After two Swedes were killed in a terrorist attack in Brussels, French president Emmanuel Macron said that “Europe has been shaken”.
Belgian police earlier said that the gunman had suspected terrorist motives.
A spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor, Eric van Duyse, requested locals to “go home and stay at home as long as the threat has not been eradicated”.
‘Suspected terror attack’ forces Euro 2024 qualifier to be cancelled
The attack caused the second half of the Euro 2024 qualifier match between Belgium and Sweden to be cancelled, after players reportedly refused to return to the field.
Reports from the ground described a nervous atmosphere near the stadium, which was later locked down before supporters were safely evacuated.
A statement from Uefa said that the decision to cancel the remaineder of the match had been made following consultation with both teams and the police, following the “suspected terrorist attack”.
Motivation behind Brussels attacks unkown
The motivation of the violent attacks that left two people killed and one injured, are still unkown.
In a video posted on Facebook, the alleged gunman claimed to have been inspired by the Islamic State and intended to “avenge the Muslims”
However, Belgian federal prosecutors have said that they do not believe the motive related to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, despite rising tensions in major European cities following the attacks on Israel by Hamas.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments