Belgian police have concluded a manhunt for a Tunisian man, 45, with suspected extremist motives after he allegedly killed two Swedes in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and injured a third Swedish man on Monday before disappearing into the night.
Eric Van Duyse, a spokesperson for the Belgium federal prosecutor’s office, told AFP on Tuesday morning that officers had “opened fire” as they attempted to apprehend the armed suspect in the Schaerbeek area of the city.
Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden later told VRT radio of the chase, “We have the good news that we found the individual.” But she added that the armed suspect had succumbed to gunshot wounds and that a military weapon believed to be the one used in the Monday attack was recovered from him.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo described the assailant as an illegal immigrant from Tunisia who was on the national security watchlist.
The Oct. 16 shooting forced authorities to shut down a Belgium-Sweden soccer match at the national stadium roughly three miles away, holding 35,000 fans inside for several hours as a precaution against follow-up attacks.
The injured man remains in hospital with “severe injuries,” Mr. De Croo told reporters.
Fans were reportedly allowed to leave two hours after the game was canceled. After hours at large, spokesperson for Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office told AFP that the gunman has since been arrested by Belgian police.
Earlier, Mr. Van Duyse told the LN24 news channel that the ongoing investigation is looking at a possible terrorist motivation for the shooting after “a claim of responsibility was posted on social media.”
“This person claims to be inspired by Islamic State (ISIS), the Swedish nationality of the victims was put forward as the probable motive,” Mr. Van Duyse said.
Belgium’s Terror Alert Level Raised
Belgium’s national crisis center said the terror alert in its capital has been raised to its top rating of 4, meaning a threat “is very serious and imminent.”It previously stood at 2, which was an “average” threat level. The alert level for the rest of the country has been raised to 3, which is classed as “serious.”
Mr. Duyse has ruled out any links to the Israel-Hamas war at this time. The ongoing conflict has seen division, protests, and violence sweep the globe.
Iran-backed Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and other nations, initiated a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, raiding homes where they killed or took hostage Israeli residents.
Israel has responded by besieging the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, vowing to continue withholding water, food, and gas until all hostages are released. It has also launched a military response to wipe out Hamas in Gaza, which has seen reports of many civilians and suspected Hamas members killed.
Leaders across Europe quickly condemned the suspected terror attack in Brussels, along with organizations and groups promoting hate and division.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo takes part in a press conference after a meeting of the consultative committee with ministers of the Federal government, the regional governments and the community governments, in Brussels, on March 19, 2021. Philip Reynaers/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
Mr. De Croo offered his condolences to Sweden in an Oct. 17 post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, while also calling for unity.
“Belgium sends its sincere condolences to the people of Sweden. This terrorist attack shakes the foundations of our peaceful societies,” he said.
“We offer our unwavering solidarity in the face of this blind hatred. We will counter terrorism together with even greater determination.”
He also revealed that he is closely following the situation with the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs from the Belgium National Crisis Centre.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also offered her condolences, while declaring: “Terror and extremism cannot infiltrate in our societies. People must feel safe.”
“Hate will not win. My thoughts are with the victims’ relatives. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” Ms. Metsola said.
Sweden has raised its terror alert to the second-highest level in August after a series of public Quran-burnings by an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden resulted in threats from Islamic terrorist groups such as ISIS.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
