A Sweden-Belgium soccer match was halted at halftime and the country put on its second-highest-level terror alert Monday after two Swedes were fatally shot a few miles from a stadium in Brussels.
Belgian authorities did not give details of the attack but said it was terrorism-related. The gunman was still at large, prompting warnings for fans and residents to stay put.
“The population needs to be actively vigilant and avoid any unnecessary travel,” anti-terror center spokeswoman Laura Demullier said.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo linked the attack to “terrorism” without giving details.
“I have just offered my sincere condolences to @SwedishPM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels,” he said on X, formerly Twitter. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”
Authorities said they were still seeking the alleged gunman, who was seen in amateur video aired by local media proclaiming his loyalty to the Islamic State and calling himself Abdesalem Al Guilani. He also said he killed three people, not two, Reuters reported. Police were working to verify the videos posted online during the attack, BBC News reported.
“A horrible shooting in Brussels, and the perpetrator is actively being tracked down,” said Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden.
The city’s terror alert level was raised to the highest, indicating that a “threat is extremely serious.”
The shooting took place at 6 p.m. local time, about an hour before the Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier football match in the city’s King Baudouin Stadium. The Union of European Football Associations declared the match “abandoned” after the teams learned the news and players on both sides said they did not want to continue.
“Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned,” UEFA said in a statement.
Authorities told the more than 35,000 fans to stay put while they figured out how to evacuate them safely.
“All together! All together!” they chanted while they waited, reported ESPN.
With News Wire Services
