Brussels Shooting Police have shot down the suspect behind the killing of two Swedish nationals in Brussels.
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Tuesday that the suspect, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, has been killed, reports CNN.
The attack took place in the city on a day when Belgium hosted Sweden in a Euro 2024 qualifier soccer game at the King Baudouin Stadium.
The match was abandoned following the incident.
The stadium was later on evacuated.
In a video posted on social media, a man identifying himself as the gunman claimed “to be inspired by the Islamic State,” a spokesperson for Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office told CNN, adding “the Swedish nationality of the victims was mentioned as a probable motivation for the act.”
“At this stage, there are no indications of a potential link with the Israeli-Palestinian situation. On the basis of both the facts and the claim, security measures have been taken as a matter of urgency to protect Swedish fans as much as possible,” spokesperson Eric Van Duyse said during a news conference as quoted by the news channel.
Condemning the incident, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib wrote on X: "Nothing justifies terrorism and hatred. In adversity, let's stay united, all together, against any form of violence. Religion can never be used to sow terror."
Nothing justifies terrorism and hatred.
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) October 17, 2023
In adversity, let's stay united, all together, against any form of violence.
Religion can never be used to sow terror.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on his X page that the victims were Swedish nationals.
"I have just offered my sincere condolences to @SwedishPM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," he said.
"Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones.As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one," he said.
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