Two people were killed and two others were severely injured on Thursday (June 27) in a shooting incident reported at an area known for drug trafficking near the Gare de Midi train station in Brussels, police said.

The incident took place between 1:00 and 2:00 am near a cafe in the Saint Gilles district of the Belgian capital. While the suspect fled the crime scene, a police spokesman said.

Three people were wounded during the shooting; two are in a life-threatening condition, while the third one is stable, according to the police department.

In a recent crackdown on drug trafficking, Brussels officials identified Saint-Gilles as one of 15 drug hotspots across the capital's 19 municipalities.

However, the police have not so far established a link between the shooting and the city's illegal drugs trade. 
Judicial officials were due to make a statement later on Thursday.

In recent years, Belgium has witnessed a rise in gun violence linked to rivalries between drug trafficking gangs.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two people were killed and two others were severely injured on Thursday (June 27) in a shooting incident reported at an area known for drug trafficking near the Gare de Midi train station in Brussels, police said.

Two people were killed and two others were severely injured on Thursday (June 27) in a shooting incident reported at an area known for drug trafficking near the Gare de Midi train station in Brussels, police said. The incident took place between 1:00 and 2:00 am near a cafe in the Saint Gilles district of the Belgian capital. While the suspect fled the crime scene, a police spokesman said. Three people were wounded during the shooting; two are in a life-threatening condition, while the third one is stable, according to the police department. In a recent crackdown on drug trafficking, Brussels officials identified Saint-Gilles as one of 15 drug hotspots across the capital's 19 municipalities. However, the police have not so far established a link between the shooting and the city's illegal drugs trade. Judicial officials were due to make a statement later on Thursday. In recent years, Belgium has witnessed a rise in gun violence linked to rivalries between drug trafficking gangs. (With inputs from agencies)

Two dead, two gravely wounded in Brussels shooting

A sense of terror and concern gripped Brussels city of Belgium after a gunman claiming to be a member of ISIS went on a rampage and killed two Swedish nationals who were on their way to watch a match at King Baudouin Stadium, where Sweden were playing Belgium.

The assault took place on Monday (Oct 16) on Boulevard d'Ypres, 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the stadium.

The attacker was identified by local media as 45-year-old Abdesalem Lassoued, of Tunisian origin.&nbsp;He was said to be carrying a&nbsp;Kalashnikov-style assault rifle when he saw a group of football fans heading to see the Euro 2024 qualifier.

Following 12 hours of manhunt, the terrorist was caught and shot during a stop-and-search in a cafe as authorities searched Belgium’s capital.

Interior minister Annelies Verlinden said the terrorist died on the way to hospital in an ambulance.

<h2>Sought revenge for Quran burnings&nbsp;</h2>

“The perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Brussels has been identified and died," Verlinden posted on X, hours after Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called Monday's shooting a brutal "terrorist attack".

The shooting comes in the backdrop of rising tensions over the Quran burning protests in Sweden that widened the rift between the Arab nations and the European country.

Several countries had objected to the protests and terrorists had even threatened to eliminate Swedes at home and abroad.

“The perpetrator targeted specifically Swedish supporters who were in Brussels to attend a Red Devils soccer match. Two Swedish compatriots passed away. A third person is recovering from severe injures," PM de Croo said.

<h2>Attacker celebrated killings&nbsp;</h2>

Shortly after the attack, the gunman uploaded a video of himself on Facebook boasting about the murders.

In the video, the attacker used the name 'Slayem Slouma' and said in Arabic that he sought to avenge the killing of a six-year-old US-Palestinian boy.

The six-year-old boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, was knifed to death in Plainfield, Illinois, on Saturday morning.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brussels-shooting-suspected-shooter-arrested-after-attack-647865">Brussels shooting: Suspected attacker shot dead by police after chase</a>

His mother, Hanaan Shahin, was also stabbed over a dozen times, by a man allegedly screaming 'You Muslims must die!'

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belgium-two-killed-in-shooting-incident-in-brussels-suspect-on-run-647715">ISIS terrorist kills 2 in Brussels to 'avenge' murder of 6-year-old Illinois boy</a>

Celebrating the assault, he said, "Islamic greeting Allahu Akbar. My name is Abdesalem Al Guilani and I am a fighter for Allah. I am from the Islamic State. We love who loves us and we hate who hates us. We live for our religion and we die for our religion.”

He further said that he has “killed three Swedes so far” and also claimed he had carried out the attack in “revenge in the name of Muslims”.

Notably, the third victim survived and is said to be undergoing treatment&nbsp;at a hospital.

<h2>Who is Abdesalem Lassoued?</h2>

Abdesalem Lassoued is a 45-year-old man from Tunisia.&nbsp;He was reportedly a failed asylum seeker and was living illegally in the Schaerbeek area, which is about a ten-minute drive from the shooting site.

Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn said Lassoued was convicted in Tunisia ‘for common law offences’, but was not reported for a terrorist risk.

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A sense of terror and concern gripped Brussels city of Belgium after a gunman claiming to be a member of ISIS went on a rampage and killed two Swedish nationals who were on their way to watch a match at King Baudouin Stadium, where Sweden were playing Belgium.

A sense of terror and concern gripped Brussels city of Belgium after a gunman claiming to be a member of ISIS went on a rampage and killed two Swedish nationals who were on their way to watch a match at King Baudouin Stadium, where Sweden were playing Belgium. The assault took place on Monday (Oct 16) on Boulevard d'Ypres, 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the stadium. The attacker was identified by local media as 45-year-old Abdesalem Lassoued, of Tunisian origin. He was said to be carrying a Kalashnikov-style assault rifle when he saw a group of football fans heading to see the Euro 2024 qualifier. Following 12 hours of manhunt, the terrorist was caught and shot during a stop-and-search in a cafe as authorities searched Belgium’s capital. Interior minister Annelies Verlinden said the terrorist died on the way to hospital in an ambulance. Sought revenge for Quran burnings “The perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Brussels has been identified and died," Verlinden posted on X, hours after Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called Monday's shooting a brutal "terrorist attack". The shooting comes in the backdrop of rising tensions over the Quran burning protests in Sweden that widened the rift between the Arab nations and the European country. Several countries had objected to the protests and terrorists had even threatened to eliminate Swedes at home and abroad. “The perpetrator targeted specifically Swedish supporters who were in Brussels to attend a Red Devils soccer match. Two Swedish compatriots passed away. A third person is recovering from severe injures," PM de Croo said. Attacker celebrated killings Shortly after the attack, the gunman uploaded a video of himself on Facebook boasting about the murders. In the video, the attacker used the name 'Slayem Slouma' and said in Arabic that he sought to avenge the killing of a six-year-old US-Palestinian boy. The six-year-old boy, Wadea Al-Fayoume, was knifed to death in Plainfield, Illinois, on Saturday morning. Also read | Brussels shooting: Suspected attacker shot dead by police after chase His mother, Hanaan Shahin, was also stabbed over a dozen times, by a man allegedly screaming 'You Muslims must die!' Also read | ISIS terrorist kills 2 in Brussels to 'avenge' murder of 6-year-old Illinois boy Celebrating the assault, he said, "Islamic greeting Allahu Akbar. My name is Abdesalem Al Guilani and I am a fighter for Allah. I am from the Islamic State. We love who loves us and we hate who hates us. We live for our religion and we die for our religion.” He further said that he has “killed three Swedes so far” and also claimed he had carried out the attack in “revenge in the name of Muslims”. Notably, the third victim survived and is said to be undergoing treatment at a hospital. Who is Abdesalem Lassoued? Abdesalem Lassoued is a 45-year-old man from Tunisia. He was reportedly a failed asylum seeker and was living illegally in the Schaerbeek area, which is about a ten-minute drive from the shooting site. Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn said Lassoued was convicted in Tunisia ‘for common law offences’, but was not reported for a terrorist risk. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Who is Abdesalem Lassoued? Man who shot dead 2 Swedes over Quran burnings, US Muslim boy's killing

Two people were killed during a shooting incident in Brussels on Monday (Oct 17) evening and the suspect was on the run, the Belgian capital's prosecutor's office said. The alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket fled the scene after using an automatic rifle, according to a video shared by the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The deceased individuals have been identified as two Swedish nationals and the incident occurred right before Belgium was set to host Sweden in a Euro 2023 qualifying match on Monday (Oct 17) evening.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/belgium-vs-sweden-euro-qualifier-suspended-after-shooting-incident-in-brussels-647732">Belgium-Sweden Euro qualifier suspended after shooting incident in Brussels</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Who is the suspect?&nbsp;</h2>

A video which surfaced on social media shortly after the incident showed a man in an orange motorbike outfit speaking in Arabic and claiming he carried out the attack in the name of God.&nbsp;

The man described his allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group. He said in the video that he was targeting Swedes because of their disrespect for the Quran.&nbsp;

The suspect can also be heard saying that he was motivated by the killing of a six-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois. The boy was stabbed to death by his landlord, allegedly because of his religion. The 71-year-old Joseph M. Czuba was arrested and charged with murder and hate crimes.

Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws claimed that the victims were likely two football supporters. &nbsp;

<img alt="Swedish supporters react as they wait in the stand during the Euro 2024 qualifying football match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on October 16, 2023, after an 'attack' that targeted Swedish citizens in a street of Brussels | AFP" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e12995a6-967a-4af4-aa59-b36bb0546e4b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-10-17T015842.374.png" />

Swedish supporters react as they wait in the stand during the Euro 2024 qualifying football match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels after an 'attack' that targeted Swedish citizens in a street of Brussels | AFP&nbsp;

Reacting to the shooting incident, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo described it as a "harrowing attack".&nbsp;

"I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight's harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," De Croo said on X, formerly known as 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."&nbsp;

European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen also slammed the 'despicable' Brussels attack.&nbsp;

"Tonight, my thoughts are with the families of the two victims of the despicable attack in Brussels. I extend my heartfelt support to the Belgian police, so they swiftly apprehend the suspect. Together, we stand united against terror," Von der Leyen wrote on X.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron said: "Europe has been shaken."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Two people were killed during a shooting incident in Brussels on Monday (Oct 17) evening and the suspect was on the run, the Belgian capital's prosecutor's office said.

Two people were killed during a shooting incident in Brussels on Monday (Oct 17) evening and the suspect was on the run, the Belgian capital's prosecutor's office said. The alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket fled the scene after using an automatic rifle, according to a video shared by the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. The deceased individuals have been identified as two Swedish nationals and the incident occurred right before Belgium was set to host Sweden in a Euro 2023 qualifying match on Monday (Oct 17) evening. Also read | Belgium-Sweden Euro qualifier suspended after shooting incident in Brussels Who is the suspect? A video which surfaced on social media shortly after the incident showed a man in an orange motorbike outfit speaking in Arabic and claiming he carried out the attack in the name of God. The man described his allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist group. He said in the video that he was targeting Swedes because of their disrespect for the Quran. The suspect can also be heard saying that he was motivated by the killing of a six-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois. The boy was stabbed to death by his landlord, allegedly because of his religion. The 71-year-old Joseph M. Czuba was arrested and charged with murder and hate crimes. Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws claimed that the victims were likely two football supporters. Swedish supporters react as they wait in the stand during the Euro 2024 qualifying football match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels after an 'attack' that targeted Swedish citizens in a street of Brussels | AFP Reacting to the shooting incident, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo described it as a "harrowing attack". "I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight's harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," De Croo said on X, formerly known as 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." European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen also slammed the 'despicable' Brussels attack. "Tonight, my thoughts are with the families of the two victims of the despicable attack in Brussels. I extend my heartfelt support to the Belgian police, so they swiftly apprehend the suspect. Together, we stand united against terror," Von der Leyen wrote on X. French President Emmanuel Macron said: "Europe has been shaken." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ISIS terrorist kills 2 in Brussels to 'avenge' murder of 6-year-old Illinois boy