Brussels shooting live updates: Two Swedes shot dead as Belgium police probe possible terror attack

Two Swedes were killed in Brussels after a gunman opened fire in the city centre, police have said.

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.

The violent incident came ahead of a qualifier game for the UEFA Euros between Sweden and Belgium at the Heysel Stadium, some three miles away. Local outlets reported a nervous atmosphere near to the arena following reports of the shooting, and extra security measures were added.

The second half of the match was later called off after players reportedly refused to return to the field. A message from the Swedish FA, sent to supporters advised fans to remain inside the stadium.

Footage showed security personnel ushering supporters back inside the stadium and closing the gates. Nearby Metro stations were also reportedly closed.

Key Points

• Gunman at large after fatally shooting two people in Brussels

• Macron expresses ‘solidarity’ with Belgium

• Threat level raised to highest ‘level 4’ in Brussels and nearby region

• Belgium v Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier called off

Terror suspect dies in hospital from wounds

09:11 , Athena Stavrou

Belgian police on Tuesday shot and wounded a 45-year-old Tunisian suspected of killing two Swedish football fans in Brussels, Belgian media said.

The man was shot by police in a cafe on Tuesday and died in hospital from his wounds, media said.

“The perpetrator of the Brussels terrorist attack was identified and has died,” Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden told POLITICO. “Our thanks to the intelligence and security services and the public prosecutor’s office for their quick and decisive action last night and this morning.”

Two Swedish nationals were shot dead and a third one was wounded in central Brussels on Monday night and a man who identified himself as a member of the Islamic State claimed responsibility in a video posted online.

The suspect fled the scene after the shooting as a football match between Belgium and Sweden was about to start, triggering a massive manhunt and prompting Belgium to raise its terror alert to the highest level.

“The weapon with which the attacks were committed has been found this morning where the man was apprehended in (the Brussels borough of) Schaerbeek. That makes the likelihood that the perpetrator has been caught bigger,” Verlinden told VRT broadcaster.

“We are checking fingerprints to be 100% sure.”

Watch: Moment gunman opens fire killing two people in Brussels

10:14 , Athena Stavrou

Two Swedish nationals were shot dead and a third one was wounded in central Brussels on Monday night and a man who identified himself as a member of the Islamic State claimed responsibility in a video posted online.

The suspect fled the scene after the shooting as a football match between Belgium and Sweden was about to start, triggering a massive manhunt and prompting Belgium to raise its terror alert to the highest level.

Watch: Suspected Brussels attack gunman filmed moments before police shot him in café

09:51 , Athena Stavrou

A suspected gunman who allegedly shot and killed two Swedes in Brussels was caught on CCTV just moments before he was shot by police in a nearby cafe.

A man opened fire in the city centre on Tuesday evening, shooting two people dead.

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.

Suspected Brussels attack gunman filmed moments before police shot him in café

LIVE: Police search property after Brussels gunman arrested

09:16 , Athena Stavrou

Watch live as police search property after gunman was arrested in Brussels.

Brussels shooter dead, local media say

08:46 , Athena Stavrou

The perpetrator of Monday’s lethal attacks in Brussels is dead, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF said on Tuesday.

The suspected assailant who shot to death two Swedish nationals and wounded a third person in central Brussels on Monday night was shot in a cafe in the Schaerbeek neighborhood of the Belgian capital, Belgian media reported on Tuesday.

Earlier, it was reported that the man was in intensive care in hospital.

Authorities confirm terror suspect shot by police

08:26 , Athena Stavrou

Belgian police on Tuesday shot and wounded a 45-year-old Tunisian who killed two Swedish citizens in Brussels on Monday, local broadcaster RTBF radio said on its website.

Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said earlier the wounded man was suspected of being the gunman.

“The weapon with which the attacks were committed has been found this morning where the man was apprehended in Schaerbeek. That makes the likelihood that the perpetrator has been caught bigger,” Verlinden told VRT broadcaster.

“We are checking fingerprints to be 100% sure.”

She said the man was in intensive care in hospital. Schaerbeek is on the border of Brussels.

The Belgian capital’s mayor Philippe Close told BFM TV: “It seems indeed the suspect has been neutralised.”

Terrorist attacks “shakes the foundations” of peaceful society - Belgian PM

08:15 , Athena Stavrou

Belgian’s Prime Minister has offered “unwavering solidarity”, after two Swedes were shot dead in Brussels.

Alexander De Croo wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter that terrorist attacks shake “the foundations of our peaceful societies”.

Police and forensic officers man the scene of the shooting in Brussels

07:57 , Mike Bedigan

Pictures: Brussels attack

07:47 , Athena Stavrou

Belgium was searching on Tuesday for a 45-year-old Tunisian gunman who killed two Swedish citizens and wounded a third on Monday in Brussels in what Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called a brutal terrorist attack.

Belgian media said the attacker was found and shot in a cafe in the Belgian capital, but prosecutors said they were awaiting confirmation that it was the suspect.

Belgium was hosting Sweden in a Euro 2024 qualifying match on Monday evening. The match was abandoned at halftime.

The country has raised the security alert status of its capital city to the highest level, with increased police presence, particularly for Swedish people and institutions, and warned the public to be extra vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel.

suspect ‘shot in cafe'

07:30 , Rich Booth

The suspected assailant who shot to death two Swedish nationals and wounded a third person in central Brussels on Monday night was shot in a cafe in the Schaerbeek neighborhood of the Belgian capital, Belgian media reported on Tuesday.

Belgium’s federal prosecution office confirmed the information, telling Reuters it was still uncertain if the person shot is indeed the assailant.

Watch: Emergency services on scene after two people shot dead in Brussels

07:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Threat level raised to highest ‘level 4’ in Brussels and nearby region

07:03 , Mike Bedigan

Shortly following the attack the National Crisis Centre said that it had increased the threat level in the Brussels region to “level 4”. The organisation requested “active vigilance” from civilians and advised against “unnecessary movement”.

It added that the threat level across the rest of the nation would raised to the second-highest.

Earlier, the NCC urged members of the public not to share pictures or videos of the victims on social media, out of respect for their families.

Emmanuel Macron: ‘Europe has been shaken’

06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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”.

Security tightened at a friendly match between France and Scotland

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

After the terrorist attack in Brussels that killed two Swedes, France tightened security measures at a friendly match between France and Scotland in Lille on Tuesday evening, French newspaper Le Monde reported.

Federal prosecutors in Belgium have launched a terrorism inquiry over the shooting on the Boulevard d’Ypres in Brussels.

Perpetrator’s application for asylum was rejected in 2020

06:29 , Maroosha Muzaffar

State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor told reporters on Tuesday that the suspected perpetrator applied for asylum in Belgium in November 2019.

However, in October 2020, his application was rejected and shortly afterwards he disappeared from the radar.

Belgian royal palace issues statement over shooting

06:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The Belgian royal palace said it was “shocked” by the shooting. “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims, their families and loved ones. We support the security forces who are currently doing their utmost to track down the perpetrator,” the palace said on social media.

Perpetrator identified as a man of Tunisian origin who was illegally staying in Belgium

06:13 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo told reporters today that “the perpetrator is said to be a man of Tunisian origin who was staying illegally in our country”.

He also said that security would be increased in sensitive areas including those belonging to the Swedish community.

“The perpetrator targeted Swedish supporters. It was said to be a man of Tunisian origin who was staying illegally in our country,” he said.

“Two lives were cut short, mown down by the most extreme cruelty. Our thoughts go out to the victims, their loved ones, their relatives. We offer our condolences,” he added.

Brussel schools to remain open on Tuesday, PM says

06:12 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Schools in Brussels will remain open today despite the suspect still being at large.

HLN reported that schools are “not staying closed due to the heightened terror” threat following Monday night’s attack in Brussels.

According to prime minister Alexander De Croo, who addressed a press conference, “there is no reason to close schools”.

“Everyone is now looking for a foothold. In any case, with our country, with our excellent security services, we are doing everything we can to track down the perpetrator,” Belgian minister of the interior Annelies Verlinden said.

European leaders condemn ‘cowardly’ attack

06:00 , Mike Bedigan

European political leaders sent their condolences to Sweden and its leaders following the attack – in which two Swedish nationals were killed – describing it as “cowardly”.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to @SwedishPM Kristersson and the Swedish people who have lost two of their compatriots tonight in the cowardly attack in Brussels. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.”

French president Emmanuel Macron added: “We are thinking of the victims of this cowardly attack, as well as our Belgian and Swedish friends, whose shock we share.”

Belgian prime minister says shooting victims ‘cut down by extreme brutality’

05:56 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo addressed a press conference this morning and said Monday night was meant to be “a wonderful soccer party” and the victims had been “cut down by extreme brutality”.

“Terrorism is directed against people everywhere,” he said. “Terrorists will never defeat us and we are fighting it together with our Swedish friends.

“Moments like these are a heavy ordeal but we are never going to let ourselves be intimidated by them.”

Suspect ‘claimed to be a member of Isis’

05:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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

05:41 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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’

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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

05:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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

04:56 , Mike Bedigan

‘Horrified by the terrorist attack’, says Belgian foreign minister

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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

03:53 , Mike Bedigan

Emmanuel Macron: ‘Europe has been shaken’

03:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

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

03:13 , Mike Bedigan

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

02:15 , Mike Bedigan

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.

Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs: ‘We will find the murderer’

01:34 , Mike Bedigan

Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billstrom, said that along with their Belgian counterparts, authorities would “find the murderer”.

“Devastated by the news of two Swedish football supporters murdered in Brussels tonight and a third person being seriously wounded,” he wrote on X.

“All my thoughts are with their families and loved ones. Swedish authorities work closely with their Belgian partners to find the murderer.”

Major police operation underway in Brussels commune – reports

01:11 , Mike Bedigan

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, a major police operation is underway in Schaerbeek, with officers there in large numbers.

The alleged gunman is reported to have being stying in the Brussels commune illegally. No information about the suspect has been released by authorities.

Gunman still at large after almost five hours

Monday 16 October 2023 23:54 , Mike Bedigan

No new information has emerged about the suspected gunman’s location, almost five hours on from the initial attacks in which two Swedish nationals were killed.

The incident took place around 7.15pm local time, with authorities unable to share further information since then.

Fans at the King Baudouin Stadium have been evacuated, with some telling Dutch-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that the process had gone “smoothly”.

Brussels police cordon off an area near to the shooting

Monday 16 October 2023 23:40 , Mike Bedigan

Von der Leyen sends condolences to people of Sweden

Monday 16 October 2023 23:32 , Mike Bedigan

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said her thoughts were with the people of Sweden following the attack.

Writing on X, she said: “I want to express my deepest condolences to @SwedishPM Kristersson and the Swedish people who have lost two of their compatriots tonight in the cowardly attack in Brussels. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.”

Watch Live: Police cordon scene after two people shot dead in Brussels

Monday 16 October 2023 23:30 , Mike Bedigan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm4LMfMt_cg

Suspected claimed to be inspired by IS in online video

Monday 16 October 2023 23:20 , Mike Bedigan

Violent footage circulating on social media appeared to show the suspect, wearing a bright orange jacket, firing a large weapon in the centre of Brussels.

Later and in a separate post, a man in a similar jacket, claimed to be the attacker said he had been inspired by the Islamic State (IS) and said he had shot the people to “avenge the Muslims”.

The National Crisis Centre said the message cited the victims’ Swedish nationality as a possible motive for the act.

Supporters in the stands following the Euro qualifier suspension

Monday 16 October 2023 23:10 , Mike Bedigan

King Baudouin Stadium evacuated by authorities

Monday 16 October 2023 23:00 , Mike Bedigan

Fans at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels are being evacuated, as the gunman remains at learge.

The National Crisis Centre announced the evacuation, but urged supporters to follow the instructions of the emergency services and return home immediately.

Fans watching the Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden had previously been told to remain inside the stadium and await further information.

Police on the ground in central Brussels

Monday 16 October 2023 23:00 , Mike Bedigan

Uefa statement

Monday 16 October 2023 22:53 , Mike Bedigan

Swedish FA advises fans to stay inside the stadium

Monday 16 October 2023 22:50 , Mike Bedigan

A statement shared by the Swedish FA, advised football fans to stay inside the stadium for security reasons.

“We will return when the Belgian authorities provide us with new information. Keep calm and take care of each other,” the statement read.

A statement from UEFA read: “Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.”

Macron expresses ‘solidarity’ with Belgium

Monday 16 October 2023 22:45 , Mike Bedigan

Writing on X, French president Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Belgium, and shared his “shock” at the violent attack.

“I have just spoken with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to express the solidarity of the French in this terrible moment that Brussels is going through,” he said.

“We are thinking of the victims of this cowardly attack, as well as our Belgian and Swedish friends, whose shock we share.”

Threat level raised to highest ‘level 4’ in Brussels and nearby region

Monday 16 October 2023 22:40 , Mike Bedigan

The National Crisis Centre said that it had increased the threat level in the Brussels region to “level 4”. The organisation requested “active vigilance” from civilians and advised against “unnecessary movement”.

It added that the threat level across the rest of the nation would raised to the second-highest.

Earlier, the NCC urged members of the public not to share pictures or videos of the victims on social media, out of respect for their families.

Monday 16 October 2023 22:33 , Mike Bedigan

Belgian federal prosecutors have confirmed that one other person has been injured in the Brussels attacks, on top of the two dead.

The prosecutor’s office said that although the man claimed to be inspired by the Islamic State (IS) there was so far no link between the attack and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Belgium v Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier called off

Monday 16 October 2023 22:25 , Mike Bedigan

The second half of a qualifier game for the 2024 Euros between Belgium and Sweden at the Heysel Stadium, some 3 miles away, was called off.

Local outlets reported a nervous atmosphere near to the arena following reports of the shooting, and extra security measures were added.

Footage showed security personnel ushering supporters back inside the stadium and closing the gates.

Belgian politicians condemn ‘cowardly’ attack

Monday 16 October 2023 22:21 , Mike Bedigan

Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden condemned the “terrible shooting” on X, and said the shooter would be “tracked down.”

“An investigation by the police and the public prosecutor’s office is underway. I am monitoring the situation and the measures to be taken from the National Crisis Centre,” she wrote.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo described attack “cowardly” and asked citizens to be “vigilant”.

Watch live: Police cordon scene after two people shot dead in Brussels

Monday 16 October 2023 22:17 , Mike Bedigan

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brussels-belgium-shooting-police-b2430761.html

Emergency services on scene after two people shot dead in Brussels

Monday 16 October 2023 22:12 , Graeme Massie

Police quick to arrive

Monday 16 October 2023 22:09 , Mike Bedigan

Police spokeswoman Ilse Vande Keere said officers arrived soon at the scene, and sealed off the immediate neighborhood, though were able to provide further information.

Dutch-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) reported that the perpatrator of the crimes had released a video on Facebook, in which he claimed to be a member of IS. The man said he had shot the people “avenge the Muslims”.

It comes at a time of heightened politcal and religious tension around the world, following the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas, and ensuing conflict.

Belgium stadium on lockdown with thousands of fans held inside after Brussels shooting

Monday 16 October 2023 22:05 , Graeme Massie

The Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden was suspended after a fatal shooting in Brussels.

Jack Rathborn has all the details.

Belgium stadium on lockdown with fans held after Brussels shooting

Gunman still at large in Brussels

Monday 16 October 2023 22:03 , Mike Bedigan

A man suspected of shooting two Swedish nationals in Brussels as of around 11pm local time.

Footage shared online showed the man, who was wearing a bright orange jacket and white helmet, speeding away from the crime scene on a scooter.

The violent incident took place at around 7.15pm local time, according to authorities.

Gunman at large after fatally shooting two people in Brussels

Monday 16 October 2023 21:57 , Graeme Massie

Authorities raised the terror alert to the highest level in the capital following the killing of two Swedish nationals.

Mike Bedigan has the story.

Gunman at large after fatally shooting two people in Brussels

Brussels shooting

Monday 16 October 2023 21:56 , Graeme Massie

This is a live blog covering the fatal shooting of two Swedes in Brussels, Belgium.