Two people were killed by gunfire early Monday evening in the center of Brussels. The suspect is still at large.
Two people of Swedish nationality were killed on the evening of Monday October 16 in Brussels by an armed man who fled on a scooter. This is a “cowardly attack” according to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo who called for unity in “the fight against terrorism”. The federal prosecutor’s office, responsible for terrorism cases, has been seized of the investigation, a spokesperson told AFP.
The President of the European Commission denounced a “despicable attack”. “My heart goes out this evening to the families of the two victims of the despicable attack which took place in Brussels”indicated Ursula von der Leyen on X (ex-Twitter). “We are united against terror“, she added. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “condemned with decision” the attack which left two dead in Brussels and Meloni “follows with concern the news of the attack committed in Brussels in the heart of Europe”his services indicated in a press release.
“Europe is shaken up,” declares Emmanuel Macron
The French political class expressed Monday evening its “solidarity” with Belgium on X (formerly Twitter), after the attack in Brussels. “Europe is shaken up”declared Monday evening Emmanuel Macron from Albania. “Brussels is hit again by a terrorist attack which as I speak to you has taken the lives of at least two Europeans, two Swedes”he added.
“Our hearts are in Brussels, with the victims and our Swedish friends after this heinous attack”said Stéphane Séjourné, secretary general of the Renaissance presidential party, calling for “fight Islamist terrorism to the end”. “Let’s not let these criminals divide us!”he added.
“It’s terrifying, I would like to express all my compassion for the victims and for what is happening in Belgium, especially since the attacker is still on the run”reacts on franceinfo Nathalie Goulet, UDI senator from Orne (Normandy). “It reminds us of patterns that we have unfortunately experienced and whose sad anniversaries we will commemorate in a few weeks. It still resembles what happened at the Bataclan. It is an extremely tense situation.”
“Terrorism is advancing,” says Éric Ciotti
“Thoughts for our Belgian neighbors hit once again by Islamist barbarism”reacts Eric Ciotti, president of the Republicans. “Terrorism is advancing, threatening our values, our lives and those of our children. Let us no longer tremble, let us act before they strike!”he adds.
The president of the group in the National Assembly Marine Le Pen declares on “Belgium faces a new Islamist terrorist attack in the heart of its capital in Brussels.” “All my thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, as well as the Belgian people and the Swedish people in this terrible ordeal.”
“This tragedy, like the others, should never have happenedreacts the president of Reconquest and former candidate for the presidential election Eric Zemmour. I want to express my sorrow and my immense anger for the unfortunate victims of this evening, for their loved ones, and for the population of Brussels. Shame on the political leaders: they brought in our assassins by the thousands. The blood of the victims is on their hands.”
“Terrorism is the war of cowards”, declares Olivier Faure
“Thoughts of solidarity for Brussels in turn prey to Islamist fanaticism”reacted Monday evening on X the First Secretary of the PS Olivier Faure. “Terrorism is the war of cowards”, he adds. The PS mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, whose city was hit by the attacks of November 13, 2015, claimed to be “all hearts with our brothers and sisters in Brussels” and she addressed on behalf of the inhabitants of the French capital “our thoughts to the victims of this new attack”.
“Affection and solidarity with the Belgian people struck by a terrorist act”reacts on Twitter Mathilde Panot, the president of the LFI group at the National Assembly on X. “All my thoughts to all the loved ones of the victims. We share their sadness”.
“Full solidarity with the Belgian people who are facing a terrible terrorist attack”reacts on X the national secretary of the PCF Fabien Roussel. “Islamist terrorism must be fought step by step”he adds.