Belgium-Sweden match abandoned after shooting attack in Brussels
Belgium hosted Sweden in the Group F match of the Euro 2024 qualifiers. However, the second half of the match could not start due to the armed attack in Brussels.
In the evening, shots were fired near Place Sainctelette, Boulevard d’Ypres and Boulevard du Neuvième de Ligne, near the Vlaams Woningsfonds buildings in Brussels.
Numerous emergency services teams attended the scene. The Brussels-Ixelles police station and the Brussels prosecutor’s office confirmed the death of two people. While it was learned that the suspect was on the run, it was stated that the two people who lost their lives were Swedish fans who came to watch the game against Belgium.
THEY DID NOT WANT TO START IN THE SECOND PART
The players of the Swedish National Team decided not to play the second half of the match because the deceased were Swedes and the match was suspended. While there is no official statement yet on whether the match was canceled or not, the stadium has not yet been evacuated for safety reasons.
Swedish fans waited nervously in their seats in the stands for the decision. Photo: Reuters.
THREAT LEVEL TO THE HIGHEST
The spokesperson for the National Crisis Center, Antoine Iseux, in his statement around 9:40 p.m., stated that the Threat Analysis Coordination Center (Ocam) increased the threat level of the Brussels-Capital Region to 4. (higher) He said that while the rest of Belgium was at level 3 on a 4-point scale.
The federal prosecutor’s office took over the investigation and confirmed that the incident was of a terrorist nature.