A 45-year-old Tunisian, suspected of having killed two Swedish fans in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, died this Tuesday (17) after being shot by police in a cafe, Belgian authorities said, while Sweden’s Prime Minister asked for more security at the European Union’s borders.
The attacker, who identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and claimed responsibility for the terrorist act in a video posted on social media, is also suspected of injuring a third person in the center of Brussels, on Monday night (16).
“The perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Brussels has been identified and killed,” Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden posted on X (formerly Twitter), hours after Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called the attack a brutal “terrorist attack.”
The shooting came at a time of heightened security concerns in some European countries linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, although a Belgian federal prosecutor said there was no evidence the attacker had any links to the new conflict between Israel and militants. Palestinians.
In August, Sweden raised its terrorism alert to its second-highest level and warned of increased threats against Swedes at home and abroad after the burning of the Quran outraged Muslims and provoked threats from jihadists.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a press conference on Tuesday that security must be strengthened and that Sweden and the EU need better border controls.
VIDEO – UN Security Council will vote on Brazil’s text on war this Tuesday
“I understand that many Swedes are scared and angry,” Kristersson said, adding: “This is a time for more security, we cannot be naive.”
The suspect in the attack, who unsuccessfully sought asylum in Belgium in November 2019 and was living in the country illegally, was known to Belgian police in connection with people smuggling, Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said on Tuesday. .
In a video on social media, the alleged shooter called himself Abdesalem Al Guilani.
Verlinden, from Belgium, previously said he could not rule out the possibility he had accomplices.
The gunman fled the scene after the attack on Monday as a football match between Belgium and Sweden was about to start, triggering a massive manhunt and prompting Belgium to raise the capital’s terrorism alert to the highest level. .
“The criminal specifically targeted Swedish fans who were in Brussels to watch the football match. Two fellow Swedes have died. A third person is recovering from serious injuries,” Croo said.
Belgium were hosting Sweden in a Euro 2024 qualifying match. The game was stopped at half-time.
Belgium has been the target of several Islamist attacks in recent years, the deadliest being the 2016 attack on Brussels airport and the city’s metro, in which 32 people died.
Several of the Islamist gunmen who attacked Paris in a 2015 attack that killed 130 people were Belgian or lived in Brussels.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
