BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (AFP): Two Swedish nationals were shot dead in Brussels late Monday by a suspect who remains at large, in an attack the Belgian prime minister described as "terrorism".
The gunman fled on a scooter and Belgium's security observatory raised its terror alert to level four or "very serious"-the highest-for Brussels, and level three nationally.
Belgium's premier, Alexander De Croo, said the shooting had targeted Swedes-the attack came just before a Belgium-Sweden soccer match-and European leaders were quick to offer their solidarity.
In a video posted on social media, a man identifying himself as the attacker said "he was inspired by the Islamic State" (IS) extremist group, the spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, Eric Van Duyse, said on the LN24 news channel.
"I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight's harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," De Croo posted on social media.
"Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one."
Several Belgian media outlets said the two individuals killed were wearing football shirts belonging to the Swedish national team ahead of the game between Sweden and Belgium.
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
