Two Swedish football fans killed in Brussels terror attack
Belgian authorities announced on Tuesday morning they had arrested the suspected gunman following the deadly shooting of two Swedish football fans in Brussels the previous night.
UPDATE: Brussels gunman dead after attack on Swedish football fans
Two Swedish nationals were shot dead in Brussels late Monday by a gunman in an attack the Belgian prime minister described as "terrorism".
A third individual – also Swedish – was also hurt in the attack. Officials said his injuries were serious, but not life threatening.
The shooter had fled on a scooter and Belgium's security observatory raised its terror alert to level four or "very serious" – the highest – for Brussels, and level three nationally.
He was arrested early on Tuesday morning with officers forced to open fire, Belgian prosecutors told AFP. It was not clear if they suspect had been wounded.
Belgium's premier, Alexander De Croo, said the shooting had targeted Swedes – the attack came just before a Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier – and European leaders were quick to offer their solidarity.
In a video posted on social media on Monday after the attack, a man claiming responsibility said "he was inspired by the Islamic State" (IS) extremist group, the spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, Eric Van Duyse, said on the LN24 news channel.
The individual claiming the attack said the Swedish nationality of his victims was a motivation, Van Duyse said but added there appeared to be no links with the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
Several Belgian media named the suspect as Abdesalem L, aged 45 of Tunisian origin, who lived in Brussels.
Belgian police officers from the forensic service search for evidence in a street after two people were killed. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP
Several Belgian media outlets said the two individuals killed were wearing football shirts of the Swedish national team ahead of the game between Sweden and Belgium.
The Group F European qualifier match between the two countries was suspended at half-time "due to incidents," the Belgian side posted on social media accounts.
Around 35,000 fans attended the match and were kept inside the ground until they were eventually allowed to leave just before midnight.
Officers provided extra protection for Swedish nationals at the game, escorting Sweden's national players directly to the airport to leave safely, Belgium's football association CEO told the country's RTBF channel.
The federal prosecutor in charge of terrorism cases launched an investigation.
Sweden has been at the centre of a bitter row this year with Muslim countries after multiple burnings of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
Several terror groups, including al-Qaida and Isis had recently called for revenge attacks on Sweden.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said he was devastated by news of the attack.
"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 said.
"Swedish authorities are working closely with their Belgian partners to find the murderer," he added on social media.
'Stood there frozen'
The shooting took place in the city centre's northern districts. Police had been alerted to the incident after 7pm local time.
In a video shared online by Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the shooter is seen with an automatic weapon on his shoulder, fleeing on a scooter.
Four gunshots can be heard in the video.
A witness who spoke to LN24 channel described his shock during the incident.
"I stood there frozen, I didn't move. I was shocked by what happened, even now I am still in shock," said the witness, who gave his name as Sulayman.
The Belgian royal palace said it was "shocked" by the shooting.
'Despicable'
The president of the European Commission, which is based in Brussels, was quick to condemn the attack.
"Tonight, my thoughts are with the families of the two victims of the despicable attack in Brussels," Ursula von der Leyen posted on social media.
"I extend my heartfelt support to the Belgian police, so they swiftly apprehend the suspect. Together, we stand united against terror."
French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe was "shaken" by an "Islamist" attack in Brussels, while France's interior minister had earlier given instructions to strengthen border controls with Belgium.
Belgium had already been the target of an attack claimed by Isis extremists in March 2016, at Brussels' main airport and on the metro system, which killed 32 people.
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UPDATE: Brussels gunman dead after attack on Swedish football fans
Two Swedish nationals were shot dead in Brussels late Monday by a gunman in an attack the Belgian prime minister described as "terrorism".
A third individual – also Swedish – was also hurt in the attack. Officials said his injuries were serious, but not life threatening.
The shooter had fled on a scooter and Belgium's security observatory raised its terror alert to level four or "very serious" – the highest – for Brussels, and level three nationally.
He was arrested early on Tuesday morning with officers forced to open fire, Belgian prosecutors told AFP. It was not clear if they suspect had been wounded.
Belgium's premier, Alexander De Croo, said the shooting had targeted Swedes – the attack came just before a Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier – and European leaders were quick to offer their solidarity.
In a video posted on social media on Monday after the attack, a man claiming responsibility said "he was inspired by the Islamic State" (IS) extremist group, the spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, Eric Van Duyse, said on the LN24 news channel.
The individual claiming the attack said the Swedish nationality of his victims was a motivation, Van Duyse said but added there appeared to be no links with the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
Several Belgian media named the suspect as Abdesalem L, aged 45 of Tunisian origin, who lived in Brussels.
Several Belgian media outlets said the two individuals killed were wearing football shirts of the Swedish national team ahead of the game between Sweden and Belgium.
The Group F European qualifier match between the two countries was suspended at half-time "due to incidents," the Belgian side posted on social media accounts.
Around 35,000 fans attended the match and were kept inside the ground until they were eventually allowed to leave just before midnight.
Officers provided extra protection for Swedish nationals at the game, escorting Sweden's national players directly to the airport to leave safely, Belgium's football association CEO told the country's RTBF channel.
The federal prosecutor in charge of terrorism cases launched an investigation.
Sweden has been at the centre of a bitter row this year with Muslim countries after multiple burnings of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
Several terror groups, including al-Qaida and Isis had recently called for revenge attacks on Sweden.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said he was devastated by news of the attack.
"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 said.
"Swedish authorities are working closely with their Belgian partners to find the murderer," he added on social media.
'Stood there frozen'
The shooting took place in the city centre's northern districts. Police had been alerted to the incident after 7pm local time.
In a video shared online by Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the shooter is seen with an automatic weapon on his shoulder, fleeing on a scooter.
Four gunshots can be heard in the video.
A witness who spoke to LN24 channel described his shock during the incident.
"I stood there frozen, I didn't move. I was shocked by what happened, even now I am still in shock," said the witness, who gave his name as Sulayman.
The Belgian royal palace said it was "shocked" by the shooting.
'Despicable'
The president of the European Commission, which is based in Brussels, was quick to condemn the attack.
"Tonight, my thoughts are with the families of the two victims of the despicable attack in Brussels," Ursula von der Leyen posted on social media.
"I extend my heartfelt support to the Belgian police, so they swiftly apprehend the suspect. Together, we stand united against terror."
French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe was "shaken" by an "Islamist" attack in Brussels, while France's interior minister had earlier given instructions to strengthen border controls with Belgium.
Belgium had already been the target of an attack claimed by Isis extremists in March 2016, at Brussels' main airport and on the metro system, which killed 32 people.
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