Belgian police safe the realm after a taking pictures in Brussels, Belgium, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
Police in Belgium on Tuesday shot useless a suspected Tunisian extremist accused of killing two Swedish soccer followers in a brazen taking pictures on a Brussels avenue earlier than disappearing into the evening, reported The Related Press.
Hours after a manhunt started within the Belgian capital, Inside Minister Annelies Verlinden instructed broadcaster VRT: “We have the good news that we found the individual.” She stated that the weapon believed to have been used within the taking pictures was recovered.
Movies posted on social media of Monday’s assault confirmed a person carrying an orange fluorescent vest pull up on a scooter, take out a big weapon and open fireplace on passersby earlier than chasing them right into a constructing to gun them down, reported AP.
Prime Minister Alexander de Croo earlier stated the suspect was a person of Tunisian origin who had been dwelling within the nation illegally.
“The terrorist attack that happened yesterday was committed with total cowardice, the attacker chose as a target two Swedish football fans,” de Croo instructed a information convention, including {that a} third individual was significantly wounded.
Sweden expressed its devastation over the taking pictures — which occurred simply earlier than a Belgium-Sweden soccer match Monday night — and European leaders have been fast to supply their solidarity.
Sweden has been on the centre of a bitter row this yr with Muslim international locations after a number of burnings of the Koran, Islam’s holy guide.
In a video posted in Arabic on social media, a person figuring out himself because the attacker stated “he was inspired by the Islamic State” (IS) extremist group, prosecutors stated, based on AFP.
The gunman carrying a hi-visibility orange jacket fled on a scooter and Belgian authorities raised the fear alert for Brussels to stage 4 or “very serious” — the very best — and stage three nationally.
A number of Belgian media named the suspect as Abdesalem L, aged 45.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn stated the asylum seeker was convicted in Tunisia “for common law offences”, however was not reported for a terrorist danger.
Prosecutors stated the attacker in his video had indicated the Swedish nationality of his victims was a motivation, however there seemed to be no hyperlinks with the battle between Israel and Hamas within the Center East.
“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,” Swedish Overseas Minister Tobias Billstrom stated.
“Swedish authorities work closely with their Belgian partners to find the murderer,” he added on social media.