This Monday, at 7:00 p.m. local time, the capital of Belgium, Brussels, was the epicenter of a new terrorist attack in the name of Islamic fundamentalism when a man opened fire with a Kalashnikov-style weapon, killing two people.
The attack took place at the intersection of Place Sainctelette and the Boulevards du Neuvième de Ligne and d'Ypres, according to Belgian media.
#BREAKING | TERRORIST ATTACK IN BELGIUM: A man opened fire with a Kaleshnikov rifle, killing at least two people in Brussels. Police sources cited by Sudinfo stated that the attacker fired indiscriminately shouting "Alahu akbar!" 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/l1tLmmtwdJ
— VOZ (@Voz_US) October 16, 2023
The shooter, according to the Belgian press, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that he belonged to the Islamic State. The victims, according to preliminary reports, are of Swedish origin.
The Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier match was taking place today. The police are increasing security around the Roi Baudouin stadium and the match was interrupted after the end of the first half.
Local media such as Sudinfo claim that the perpetrator opened fire shouting “Alahu akbar!” (Allah is great)
The media outlet reported that the shooter posted a video explaining that he acted to avenge Muslims while fighting for Allah and stating "that we live and die for our religion."
"The terrorist pulled up on a scooter. He machine-gunned innocent people with a Kalashnikov-style weapon. He shot at a vehicle where the two Swedish victims were traveling. Apparently, he first shot at a Mercedes Vito van in which the two victims were traveling, which apparently they were wearing their national team jerseys," reported Sudinfo.
The shooter was wearing a fluorescent orange jacket which can be seen in a video recorded by a witness that has since gone viral on social media.
This is the third terrorist attack in a matter of hours. An Israeli diplomat was murdered in China and a professor was killed in France after a man stabbed him to death shouting, "Alahu Akbar!"
