Belgium and Sweden commemorate victims of 16 October terrorist attack in Brussels
Belgian and Swedish authorities held a minute's silence on Wednesday morning to remember the victims of the attack on Swedish football fans in Brussels exactly one year ago. Outgoing prime minister Alexander De Croo and his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, attended the ceremony.
On 16 October 2023, shortly after 19.00, Tunisian Abdesalem Lassoued opened fire on a taxi in Brussels. Two Swedish fans, who had come to watch their country play Belgium, were killed and a third was seriously injured. Lassoued announced on social media that he was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group, which claimed responsibility for the attack.
A year later, Belgium and Sweden paid tribute to the victims in Brussels. The commemoration began at around 10.30 with a cello performance, followed by a minute's silence. Family and friends of the victims attended the ceremony.
The prime ministers laid wreaths at the building where the attack took place. Kristersson presented a signed football shirt of the Swedish national team to the relatives of the victims.
Good cooperation
"We wanted to share this moment of remembrance with the families and relatives," Kristersson said after the ceremony. He thanked Belgium for the "exceptionally good cooperation". "I am very impressed by the bond between Belgium and Sweden in this tragic case," he said.
"I am very impressed by the bond between Belgium and Sweden in this tragic case"
Lassoued was living illegally in Belgium. In August 2022 Tunisia unsuccessfully asked the country to extradite him, but the request was never followed up. Outgoing Interior minister Annelies Verlinden says many measures have been taken to prevent such an attack in the future, through information-sharing systems and police reinforcements.
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND / BELGA VIDEO TIMON RAMBOER
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