In Brussels on Monday night, two Swedish citizens were tragically shot to death, while a third individual sustained injuries in a central area of the city. The suspected assailant quickly left the scene, and the incident occurred at a time when a football match between Belgium and Sweden was about to commence. In the aftermath of the shooting, a video was posted online in which an individual claiming affiliation with the Islamic State asserted responsibility for the attack. This incident prompted a large-scale manhunt and led Belgium to raise its terror alert to the highest level.
A Belgian federal prosecutor has stated that there is no evidence suggesting a connection between the attacker, who remains at large, and the recent conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. The probable motive for the attack, as indicated by the prosecutor, is the Swedish nationality of the victims.
It’s important to note that in August, Sweden elevated its terror alert to the second-highest level due to increased threats against Swedish interests abroad. This escalation in threat levels followed incidents in Sweden, including the burning of the Quran and other actions targeting Islam’s holy text, which had outraged Muslims and led to threats from jihadists.
The suspected assailant, who identified himself as Abdesalem Al Guilani, asserted in a video on social media that he was acting as a fighter for Allah. According to the federal prosecutor, the third victim, a taxi driver, sustained injuries but was not in a life-threatening condition.
In response to the ongoing threat, the prosecutor urged the residents of Brussels to remain indoors until the situation was resolved. Additionally, European Commission staff were advised to stay indoors as a precautionary measure. two Swedish citizens
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the victims were Swedish.