Terrorist attack in Brussels interrupts Belgium-Sweden World Cup qualifying match
Residents were told to stay at home after an attack that authorities said was inspired by Islamic State.
The Match at Stade Roi-Baudouin was suspended after a terrorist attack in Belgium - Photo Reproduction/ BSR Agency / Getty Images
Brussels is on maximum security alert due to an attack perpetrated by an armed individual who, according to federal authorities, claimed to have been influenced by the Islamic State. The football game between the teams of Belgium and Sweden, which was part of the European Championship qualifiers, was abruptly canceled this Monday (16) due to a terrorist attack that shook the Belgian capital.
According to local media reports, a man fired multiple shots in an area close to the Rei Baudoin stadium, resulting in the deaths of at least two people. The shooting took place in the northern neighborhoods of the capital. Police were alerted to the incident after 7pm local time (2pm in Brazil).
Fans
Several Belgian press outlets reported that the two victims were Swedish citizens who were in Brussels to watch the match against Belgium. After receiving news of what happened, the players of both teams refused to return to the field, while fans were advised to remain inside the stadium. Laura Demullier, member of OCAD Anti-Terrorism Center of Belgium, stated that the authorities' main concern was to ensure the safe evacuation of the more than 35 thousand fans who were watching the football match between Belgium and Sweden at the stadium.
Suspect
A spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the suspect is still on the run and urged residents of the region to remain in their homes, instructing them as follows: "Please return to your homes and remain there until the threat is resolved." deleted."
“The public needs to be actively vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel,” said Demullier
The armed individual, wearing a fluorescent orange jacket and carrying an automatic rifle, firing several shots. Then he runs to a building and shoots more times. Shortly after the incident, he fled the scene on a scooter (Motorcycle), as recorded in a video released by the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. Press reports included amateur videos showing a man firing multiple shots near a station using a large gun. A taxi driver was injured and received hospital care, as reported by the prosecutor's spokesperson.
The Match at Stade Roi-Baudouin was suspended after a terrorist attack in Belgium - Photo Reproduction/ BSR Agency / Getty Images
Match for the World Cup Qualifiers
The game was interrupted during half-time with the score tied at 1-1. Belgium has already secured its place in the next European Championship, while Sweden is just fulfilling the schedule, as you no longer have a chance of winning one of the available vacancies.
In an official statement, UEFA confirmed the suspension of the match in Brussels. The entity reported that, following the terrorist attack in the city, in consultation with the two teams and local police authorities, it was decided to suspend the Euro 2024 Qualifiers game between the two teams.
Threat
The threat level in the city of Brussels has been raised to the maximum level, 4, and for the rest of the country, it was defined as level 3. Increasing the threat level to level 4 indicates that the situation is extremely critical; previously, it was at level 2, which denoted a moderate threat. European Union sources have expressed growing concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could increase security risks in Europe, with an increase in anti-Semitic attacks in the United Kingdom already seen.
However, the prosecutor's spokesperson stressed that the victims' Swedish nationality could be a possible motive, adding that at this stage there was no evidence of a link to the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Sweden raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level in August following a series of public Quran burnings by an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, which resulted in threats from militant Islamic groups.
