Gunman claiming to be ISIS member reveals shooting in Brussels Two Swedish football fans died while cheering on the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Sweden and Belgium.
October 16, 2023 Boonthong Kumongkolkul, Belgium-based Théret correspondent Progress report on the scene of the shooting at Place Saint-Théret, Ypp Street, in central Brussels. The capital of Belgium at approximately 7:15 pm on October 16, 2023 local time. Or exactly at 12:15 a.m. on October 17, Thailand time, the location of this horrific shooting incident. It is only about 5 kilometers from the King Baudouin football stadium, and the violence occurred less than two hours before the Belgian football team nicknamed the “Red Devils” played against the Swedish team. In the qualifying round for the Euro 2024 football competition (Euro 2024).
A reliable source stated that someone was shot in the entrance hall of the building. One person was injured. Two others were shot dead in a taxi. They are both of Swedish nationality. Who came to support the Swedish football team tonight and Belgian police and emergency services rushed to the scene. Willing to set up boundaries to prevent entry.
The Walloon newspaper Sodenfo reported that the shooter in Brussels chanted “Allahu Akbar” while wearing a helmet and a fluorescent vest. By shooting with a pistol it is similar to a Kalashnikov assault rifle from a motorcycle. Both victims made Tovey wearing a Swedish football team shirt, so it is believed he was a fan of the Swedish football team that will be playing against the Belgian Red Devils tonight.
Video captured by a witness. One minute shows a man wearing a fluorescent orange jacket. And a white helmet with weapons of war in hand get on a motorcycle and drive away. The man shot someone in the entrance hall first. Then he shot two people in a taxi.
Euro 2024 qualifiers between the teams Belgium-Sweden, starting at the King Baudouin Football Stadium in Brussels at 8:40 pm, before the start of the competition. The Swedish national anthem was played, followed by the Belgian Brabançon national anthem. At the same time, football players from both teams observed a minute of silence in memory of the two Swedish shooting victims who died. Just an hour before kick-off.
The Walloon newspaper Sodenfo reported that the shooter posted a video message on Facebook. He claims to be a member of ISIS (Islamic State) and brags about killing infidels. “In his very violent speech, he said he shot two people and the statement said: ‘Avenge the Muslims. We live and die for our religion.’”
Belgian security services raised the alert level to level four, indicating a serious and potential threat. While other areas across Belgium terrorism warning level 2 means that a threat is unlikely to occur. After the shooting incident, the Prime Minister of Belgium, the Minister of the Interior, and the Minister of Justice traveled to the crisis center to closely monitor the situation. Because this violent event occurred during the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Image credit: Belga