A manhunt is underway in Brussels after a new terrorist attack that shook the heart of the European capital and left at least two people dead and one injured. The two people were killed late in the afternoon with Kalashnikov shots in a square (Place Sainctelette) in the central area, near the canal that crosses the city, not far from the Molenbeek district, from where the terrorist attacks devastated Paris and devastated France . At around 7:15 p.m., witnesses saw a man wearing a fluorescent orange jacket and white helmet get off a scooter and shout “Allah akbar,” first to someone who was in the lobby of a building and then to a taxi. Immediately afterwards, according to initial witness statements, the man fled on board the same scooter. No suspects have been arrested so far. The victims would be two Swedes, possibly fans, who had come to Brussels to watch the game between their national team and the Belgian one.
In the evening, the police feared that the attacker was on his way to the stadium to strike again. In a video published on the Facebook profile of a certain Slayem Slouma, the terrorist can be seen claiming his crime and belonging to IS. “I am a mujahideen of the Islamic State, whether you like it or not.
“We live for our religion and we die for the same religion,” says the man who claims to have killed “three Swedes now.” Belgian Prime Minister De Croo, the Minister of Interior and Justice immediately gathered at the cell crisis to monitor the development of the situation and called on citizens to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel while the anti-terror services investigated the case have taken into their own hands. The authorities have decided to raise the alert level and Ocam, the body responsible for assessing the terrorist threat, has decided to raise the alert level, was urgently summoned.
“After the shooting – said the mayor of the Brussels capital Philippe Close – the police services are mobilizing to ensure security in and around our capital in collaboration with the Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden.” Close was also at the crisis center to ensure the coordination of the security forces. The Belgian capital is once again in terror after the attack on the Jewish Museum, which opened the series of attacks claimed by ISIS cells, and the double bombing at the airport and subway in March 2016, which left 32 dead and 340 injured three suicide bombers. As it became known in Paris, immediately after the news of the attack in Brussels with the perpetrator on the run, Minister Gérald Darmanin gave the order to strengthen controls on the border between France and Belgium. “My thoughts are with the families of the two victims of the despicable attack in Brussels. I fully support the Belgian police forces in catching the suspect quickly. We are united against terrorism,” wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “The heart of Europe has been struck by violence. My condolences go out to the families of the victims of the murderous attack in the center of Brussels. “My support goes to the Belgian authorities and security services who are monitoring the situation,” he repeatedly told EU Council President Charles Michel.
The game between Belgium and Sweden was suspended after the attack
The European Championship qualifying game between Belgium and Sweden was interrupted after the attack in the center of Brussels. We read that in the Belgian media. The match took place at the city’s King Baudouin Stadium, where around 35,000 people were in attendance.
Spectators are currently not allowed to leave the facility. We read that in the Belgian media.
Ambassador in Brussels: “No Italians involved”
No Italians are currently involved in the Brussels attack. This is what the Italian ambassador to Belgium Federica Favi says on Sky Tg24.
Palazzo Chigi, Meloni is following the news from Brussels with concern
“Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is following with concern the news of the attack in Brussels, in the heart of Europe. Italy strongly condemns any form of violence, fanaticism and terrorism and expresses its deepest condolences to the victims and their families.” We read it in a note from Palazzo Chigi.
Read the full article on ANSA.it