Two killed and one injured by gunman claiming allegiance to IS
On Wednesday evening, a gunman opened fire on a group of Swedish football fans who were on their way to watch the Euro 2024 qualifier match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The attacker, identified as Abdesalem Lassoued, a 45-year-old Tunisian living illegally in Belgium, killed two people and injured another before fleeing the scene. He later posted a video on social media, in which he claimed responsibility for the attack and said he was inspired by the Islamic State group.
The Belgian authorities launched a massive manhunt for the suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous. They also raised the terror threat level for Brussels to the highest level, urging the public to stay indoors and avoid crowded places. The football match, which was already underway when the shooting occurred, was abandoned at half-time, as both teams agreed not to continue playing.
The next morning, the police tracked down Lassoued to a café in the Schaerbeek municipality, where he was shot and killed after refusing to surrender. The police said they found the same weapon that was used in the attack on the Swedish fans, as well as explosives and a suicide vest.
Swedish PM condemns ‘cowardly and barbaric’ act
The Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, expressed his shock and grief over the attack, which he called “cowardly and barbaric”. He said he had spoken to his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, and offered his condolences and solidarity. He also thanked the Belgian police and security forces for their swift and professional response.
Löfven said the victims were innocent people who had travelled to Brussels to enjoy a football match and support their national team. He said Sweden would not give in to terror and hatred, and would stand united with Belgium and the rest of Europe in the fight against extremism.
The Swedish Football Association also issued a statement, saying it was deeply saddened and appalled by the attack. It said it had been in contact with the families of the victims and the injured, and offered them its full support and assistance. It also praised the Belgian Football Association for its cooperation and understanding in calling off the match.
Belgium faces political crisis over extradition request
The attack also sparked a political crisis in Belgium, as it emerged that Tunisia had requested the extradition of Lassoued in August 2022, on charges of terrorism and murder. However, the request was not followed up by the Belgian magistrates, who claimed they had not received sufficient information from the Tunisian authorities.
The Belgian Justice Minister, Vincent Van Quickenborne, resigned on Sunday, after admitting that he had been aware of the extradition request, but had not intervened or informed the government. He said he took full responsibility for his failure, and apologized to the victims and their families.
The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, said he accepted Van Quickenborne’s resignation, and announced that he would appoint a new justice minister as soon as possible. He also said he would launch an investigation into the handling of the extradition request, and the possible security lapses that allowed Lassoued to carry out the attack.
De Croo said he was determined to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, and to restore the public’s trust in the justice system and the rule of law. He also said he would continue to work closely with Sweden and other European partners to combat terrorism and radicalization.
