The Belgian capital has been hit by another wave of violence linked to drug trafficking. In just a few days, a series of shootings took place in Brussels, with the Saint-Gilles district being particularly tense. In the most recent incident, bullets flew near a restaurant, and according to local authorities, there were also children among those hiding from the gunfire.
Dozens of shots fired near a Brussels pizzeria
The most dramatic incident occurred on Monday, August 24th, around 9:00 PM at Place des Deux Bancs in Saint-Gilles, not far from the Brussels Gare du Midi station. According to The Brussels Times, the attacker used an automatic weapon and then fled. Later information indicated approximately 40 shots were fired. No one was injured, but customers of a nearby pizzeria had to take cover and lie on the ground.
The mayor of Saint-Gilles, Jean Spinette, stated that there were also children among the people in the restaurant. Local media describe the area as a known spot for street drug dealing. The competition between criminal networks for the drug market is, according to current findings, the most likely cause of this new wave of violence.
Shootings occurred several days in a row
On Saturday, a man was shot in the leg at the same location. His life was not in danger. This was followed by more shootings in the Chaussée de Forest area. One bullet went through the window of an apartment on Rue Fontainas, where a woman was lying in bed at the time. She escaped without injury. The series of incidents also affected Anderlecht, where a police station became the target of gunfire.
According to The Brussels Times, at least six shooting incidents were recorded in Brussels over several days. Police subsequently arrested two suspects and seized two military-type weapons, two pistols, a magazine, and two electric scooters during the search. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the detainees are linked to any of the recent attacks.
Brussels seeks answers to drug-related violence
The mayors of Saint-Gilles, Anderlecht, and Forest are calling for a more comprehensive federal plan against drug gangs. The Belgian Minister of the Interior, Bernard Quintin, described the shootings as "absolutely unacceptable" and emphasized that the fight against organized drug trafficking must continue.
However, this problem is not new. In May, the Belgian Federal Police arrested 27 people during a large-scale operation against a Brussels drug network, seizing drugs, firearms, and large sums of cash. The current series of shootings shows that the fight for the lucrative drug market remains a serious security challenge for the Belgian capital.
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