Police in Brussels have shot a man dead after a gunman opened fire on football fans before uploading a video onto social media.
Belgian media reports that two Swedish football fans were killed in the attack.
The killings took place only three miles from the Heysel Stadium which is hosting the UEFA Euros match between Sweden and Belgium.
Footage shared on Facebook, reportedly by the shooter himself, appears to show a man dressed in an orange jacket declaring that he had shot the people to “avenge the Muslims”. Authorities had been searching for a 45-year-old suspected Tunisian extremist who was known to police and was living in Belgium illegally.
The man reportedly claimed to be a member of ISIS. Annelies Verlinden told VRT radio that “we have the good news that we found the individual”.
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Police spokeswoman Ilse Vande Keere said officers were on the scene quickly and cordoned off the area.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions over events in Israel and Gaza where renewed violence following last weekend’s attack by Hamas has left thousands dead on both sides.
Brussels has also seen a wave of violence linked to international drug trafficking in recent times.
Speaking in Arabic, the man declared the attack was carried out to avenge the recent murder of a US-Palestinian boy.
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The gunman was reportedly heard by witnessing yelling ‘Allahu Akabar’, the Arabic for ‘God is the Greatest’.
Witnesses also reported the attacker was riding a moped.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo wrote on X to offer “my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels”.
He added: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”
The two sides called off the match during the first half. Supporters were asked to remain in their seats for security reasons.
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