Brussels mayor calls for unity of command after shootings
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The mayors of the Brussels region will meet on Thursday after three shootings in the capital region in 24 hours. The aim is to propose a unity of command plan to combat drug-related violence.
The mayor of the city of Brussels, Philippe Close, will convene the other mayors of the region's municipalities at 17.30. Brussels public prosecutor Julien Moinil and the region's six police chiefs have also been invited to the meeting.
A first shooting took place on Wednesday morning around 1.25 in the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Node. Two people were injured, according to the Brussels public prosecutor's office. One of them was found by the police at the scene in the Weidestraat, the other reported to a nearby police station with a bullet wound in the leg.
Worker hit by stray bullet
A second shooting took place at the Clemenceau metro station at around 6.15 on Wednesday morning. Surveillance footage showed two people firing several rounds from an automatic rifle. Another shooting took place near the same metro station around 4.00 on Thursday morning.
Unidentified persons firing automatic weapons outside the Clemenceau metro station on Wednesday morning, 5 February 2025 © BELGA VIDEO HANDOUT
While no one was injured in Wednesday's shooting at Clemenceau metro station, one person was wounded on Thursday. According to BX1, a worker was hit in the leg by a stray bullet. The shot was fired from a handgun, and 9mm bullet casings were found.
Drug-related violence
According to Brussels public prosecutor Julien Moinil, the three shootings are probably related to drug trafficking "given the location of the incidents". Brussels has been plagued by drug-related violence for years, but the problem seems to have worsened since last year. There were a total of 89 shootings in the capital region in 2024, compared to 43 shootings in 2023.
The newly formed federal government believes security policy is too fragmented in Brussels
The newly formed Belgian federal government addressed the issue in its coalition agreement, stating that it believes security policy is too fragmented in Brussels. This prevents crime and nuisance from being dealt with as efficiently as possible.
Merging Brussels police zones
To address fragmentation, the government plans to merge the six Brussels police zones into one. This idea has been discussed for some time, but has often met with resistance from local municipalities.
It is time to restore order "so that drug gangs fear the state again"
Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the MR party, which is part of the new federal coalition, said on Wednesday that a "much too soft" stance on drug crime had been taken for years. It is time to restore order "so that drug gangs fear the state again," he said, adding that merging police zones would help.
The Clemenceau metro station in Brussels cordoned off by police after a shooting on Thursday morning 6 February 2025 © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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