In Brussels, one person was killed and another seriously injured by gunfire during the night from Saturday to Sunday, during two shootings. This type of violence has increased in recent months in the Belgian capital, plagued by score-settling between rival gangs against a backdrop of drug trafficking.
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With our correspondent in Brussels, Laura Broulard
The first shots were heard shortly before midnight in Laeken, north of Brussels. A 29-year-old man was killed. A few hours later, a new shooting broke out in Saint Josse, near the Gare du Nord, leaving one injured, currently in hospital in critical condition.
So far, no suspects have been identified. If several deadly score-settling had already shaken the Belgian capital in 2023, the phenomenon has accelerated in recent weeks. There have been half a dozen shootings since the beginning of February. This is the second time this has resulted in a death on arrival.
Local authorities point the finger at drug trafficking originating from the port of Antwerp, the main gateway for cocaine into Europe. In Brussels, the market would now be in the hands of organized crime, with rival networks fighting for different territories.
While crack consumption also seems to be increasing, several neighborhood committees have asked the authorities to react. The Brussels region therefore unveiled a plan in mid-March to fight drug trafficking, with better coordination between police forces from different neighborhoods and priority deployment zones – but without additional resources.
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