NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — In a tragic turn of events, two Swedish nationals lost their lives in Brussels, Belgium, while a football match between Belgium and Sweden was scheduled for Monday evening. The incident unfolded as Belgium raised its terror alert to the highest level.
A video circulating on social media featured a man claiming to be the assailant, and he identified himself as being from the Islamic State.
#BREAKING | Brussels: The author of the terrorist attack is still circulating in the streets of the capital on his Motorbike #Bruxelles #Belgique #DAESH #Hamas
pic.twitter.com/jrpGg2qOCc
— Walter Cafeed (@WCafeed) October 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/i/status/1714022519890731381
#BREAKING : “Vivimos por nuestra religión y morimos por nuestra religión”, dijo el autor del tiroteo en #Bruselas en un video en una pagina de Facebook.
Aun continua profugo… https://t.co/fAHqNvWuG9
— Víctor González ®️ (@victorscnews) October 16, 2023
🚨#BREAKING: A shooting has just taken place in Brussels, Belgium. Two people have been killed and the suspect is on the run.
‼️The gunman who opened fire in Brussels said he is a member of ISIS and wanted to "Avenge Muslims". #Graphic #Brussels #Belgium #Sweden #ISIS #Hamas… pic.twitter.com/Y4YqmsIqAA
— TinAlerts (@TinAlerts) October 16, 2023
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo took to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, to confirm the nationality of the victims as Swedish. However, the exact number of casualties was not disclosed. The purported assailant, who referred to himself as Abdesalem Al Guilani and a fighter for Allah, stated that the number of victims was three rather than two.
De Croo conveyed his condolences, saying, “I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels.” He further extended sympathy to the affected families and friends and emphasized the collaborative nature of the fight against terrorism as close partners.
Reports indicated that the victims were likely soccer supporters, and the Belgium vs. Sweden match in the Euro 2024 qualifying series was interrupted at halftime due to security concerns. UEFA noted that further information would be provided shortly.
The timing of this shooting coincides with increased security concerns in parts of Europe, with ties to the Israel–Hamas conflict. France, for instance, is deploying an additional 7,000 troops in response to the fatal stabbing of a teacher last Friday, an incident President Emmanuel Macron denounced as “barbaric Islamic terrorism.”
A Belgian police spokesperson confirmed that two individuals were killed in a shooting near the center of Brussels. However, specific details and motives were not disclosed, and a spokesperson for Brussels prosecutors, who are overseeing the case, also refrained from providing additional information.
Video footage posted on the Het Laatste Nieuws newspaper website depicted a man in an orange jacket riding a scooter at an intersection. He fired multiple shots with a rifle, then entered a building, fired more shots, exited the building, took a few steps back, and fired another shot. Witness accounts suggested that the shooter had shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire.
In a video message attributed to the self-declared perpetrator, he introduced himself as Abdesalem Al Guilani, claimed to be associated with the Islamic State, and expressed allegiance to his faith. Regrettably, he stated that he had taken the lives of three Swedes and conveyed his hope for forgiveness from those he had wronged. The message concluded with a customary Islamic salutation.
In response to the Brussels incident, France has intensified border controls with Belgium. Additionally, Belgium’s crisis center has issued an advisory to the public, urging them to refrain from making any unnecessary trips in the capital, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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