Two people are murdered in the capital of Belgium while shouting ‘Allah is great’, but the attacker remains at large

The Belgian government decided to activate a crisis center after an attack was registered in the center of Brussels. It was learned that a person killed two civilians wearing the Swedish national team shirt and fled. It is suspected that he acted for terrorist purposes.

The incident took place in Brussels after 7:00 PM (local time) and through videos on social networks it was observed that a person started shooting with a large caliber weapon. The attack took place at the intersection formed by the Saincteletteplein and the boulevards of the Ninde Lijn and Ypres.

In a video recorded by a witness, which circulates on networks and is reproduced by the sports newspaper DH, the man is seen arriving alone on a small-displacement motorcycle, throws it to the ground and begins shooting rapidly.

The attacker, who was wearing a fluorescent orange jacket and a white helmet, first shot at the two deceased people, who were in a taxi. He then chased several people who tried to take refuge in the building of the Flemish Housing Fund, at whom he shot and at one of them he shot again when she was already on the ground and finally left and fled on his motorcycle.

According to the media, the attacker’s jacket resembles that of the municipal cleaning staff in Brussels.

Several witnesses reported that the man shouted “Allah akbar” as he shot his victims. The alleged attacker was identified as Slayem Slouma and later published a video on social networks in which he claimed to belong to the Islamic State and bragged about having executed “infidels.”

In his very violent speech he said he had shot two people “avenge the Muslims and that we live and die for our religion.”

Emergency services and police forces are mobilized to locate the aggressor.

They suspend the match

Given the situation, the Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden in Brussels was temporarily suspended for security reasons, with the score 1-1 at halftime.

The suspended match ended with the result 1–1 with goals from Viktor Gyokeres for Sweden in the 15th minute and from Romelu Lukaku for Belgium in the 31st minute.

According to ‘Le Soir’, both teams were informed of the situation at half-time, while the president of the Swedish Football Association was evacuated. The Swedish players refused to resume the match, a request accepted by the Red Devils, a Belgian newspaper reported. (JO)