2023-10-17 09:00:00
The Belgian Police confirmed the death of the suspect in the terrorist attack that left two dead in Brussels. (Europa Press) You may be interested in: Terrorist attack in Belgium: at least two dead following a shooting in the center of Brussels
The man had been arrested in the Brussels municipality of Schaerbeek, and the officers opened fire during the operation, according to Belgian prosecutor spokesman Eric Van Duyse.
The arrest, in the Brussels neighborhood of Schaerbeek, occurred following an intense chase in the capital of the attacker armed with an automatic rifle.
You may be interested: The Brussels terrorist identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and said he sought to “avenge the Muslims”
Prime Minister Alexander de Croo previously said the suspect was a man of Tunisian origin who had been living illegally in the country.
Authorities are investigating whether it was a terrorist attack
“Yesterday’s terrorist attack was committed with total cowardice, the attacker chose two Swedish football fans as his target,” de Croo declared at a press conference, adding that a third person had been seriously injured.
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Sweden expressed shock at the shooting, which occurred just before a Belgium-Sweden soccer match on Monday night, and European leaders were quick to offer their solidarity.
This year, Sweden has been involved in a bitter controversy with Muslim countries following the multiple burnings of the Koran, the holy book of Islam.
In a video posted in Arabic on social media, a man who identified himself as the attacker said “he was inspired by the Islamic State extremist group” (IS), according to prosecutors.
Belgian authorities raised the terrorist alert in Brussels to level four or “very serious” – the highest – and to level three at the national level.
The shooting came at a time of increased vigilance due to the war between Israel and Hamas, which has increased tension in several European countries. (REUTERS/Johanna Geron)
Several Belgian media outlets identified the suspect as 45-year-old Abdesalem L.
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn said the asylum seeker had been convicted in Tunisia “for common law crimes” but was not booked for terrorist risk.
Prosecutors said the attacker had indicated in his video that his victims’ Swedish nationality was a motivation, but there appeared to be no links to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
“Devastated by the news of two Swedish football fans murdered in Brussels tonight and a third person seriously injured. All my thoughts are with their families and loved ones,” declared Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom.
“Swedish authorities are working closely with their Belgian partners to find the killer,” he added on social media.
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