Brussels: Suspected gunman who killed two individuals earlier than soccer match dies after being shot by police | World Information

Police have shot {dead} a suspected gunman who killed two individuals earlier than a global soccer match in Brussels.

Belgium’s inside minister Annelies Verlinden informed VRT radio “we’ve got the excellent news that we discovered the person” – but additionally stated she couldn’t rule out that he had had accomplices.

The weapon believed to have been used within the deadly shootings earlier than Belgium‘s match with Sweden final night time has been recovered, she stated.

Federal prosecutors confirmed to Sky Information the suspected attacker had died.

He has been named by Belgian media as Abdesalem L – a 45-year-old Tunisian nationwide.

He was reportedly shot in a restaurant throughout a police operation within the Schaerbeek space of the town on Tuesday morning.

“The perpetrator of the terrorist assault in Brussels has been recognized and has died,” Ms Verlinden wrote on X, previously generally known as Twitter.

“We wish to thank the intelligence and safety companies, in addition to the general public prosecutor’s workplace, for his or her swift and decisive motion final night time and this morning.”

The fatal shootings on Monday evening precipitated Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier towards Sweden to be deserted at half-time.

Followers had been additionally saved within the stadium as armed officers looked for the suspected attacker.

The 2 individuals killed had been Swedish – and a 3rd particular person was wounded within the assault.

The phobia alert in Brussels has been raised to the very best stage, with an elevated police presence in power, and folks have been warned to be additional vigilant and keep away from any pointless journey.

The shootings happened about three miles (5km) from the 50,000-seater King Baudouin Stadium shortly after 7pm native time – round 45 minutes earlier than kick-off.

Learn extra: What we know about Brussels shooting

Shortly after, a person who claimed to be the gunman appeared on social media in a video by which he claimed to be a member of Islamic State (IS) and a “fighter for Allah”.

He additionally claimed he had carried out the assault in “revenge within the title of Muslims”.

One Belgium newspaper stated a witness heard the gunman shout “Allahu Akbar” – “God is nice” in Arabic – earlier than the photographs had been fired.

One other video, reported to be of the incident, which has not been verified by Sky Information, confirmed a gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket and a white helmet chasing a person right into a constructing earlier than taking pictures at him.

The suspect unsuccessfully sought asylum in Belgium in November 2019, justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne informed reporters. He was thought of a threat to state safety and was recognized to police over individuals smuggling and dwelling illegally within the nation.

He was additionally suspected of threatening an individual in an asylum centre and a listening to on that incident had been because of happen on Tuesday, Mr Van Quickenborne added.

Belgian asylum state secretary Nicole de Moor stated the suspect disappeared after his asylum software was refused. In consequence, authorities had been unable to find him to organise his deportation.

A spokesperson for Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s workplace informed reporters the investigation was specializing in “a doable terrorist motivation for the taking pictures”.

Sweden has in current months confronted rioting following a string of Koran-burning incidents in each the nation itself and in neighbouring Denmark.

In consequence, Sweden raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest stage in August.

Muslim leaders in Sweden have referred to as on the federal government to search out methods to cease the Koran burnings, however police have allowed them, citing freedom of speech.

Sweden’s SAPO police safety service stated on Tuesday its evaluation of the risk stage towards Sweden remained unchanged.