Brussels: Two Swedes shot dead as police probe possible terror attack

A statement shared by the Swedish FA, advised football fans to stay inside the stadium for security reasons.

“We will return when the Belgian authorities provide us with new information. Keep calm and take care of each other,” the statement read.

A statement from UEFA read: “Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.”

Writing on X, French president Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Belgium, and shared his “shock” at the violent attack.

“I have just spoken with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to express the solidarity of the French in this terrible moment that Brussels is going through,” he said.

“We are thinking of the victims of this cowardly attack, as well as our Belgian and Swedish friends, whose shock we share.”

The National Crisis Centre said that it had increased the threat level in the Brussels region to “level 4”. The organisation requested “active vigilance” from civilians and advised against “unnecessary movement”.

It added that the threat level across the rest of the nation would raised to the second-highest.

Earlier, the NCC urged members of the public not to share pictures or videos of the victims on social media, out of respect for their families.

The second half of a qualifier game for the 2024 Euros between Belgium and Sweden at the Heysel Stadium, some 3 miles away, was called off.

Local outlets reported a nervous atmosphere near to the arena following reports of the shooting, and extra security measures were added.

Footage showed security personnel ushering supporters back inside the stadium and closing the gates.

Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden condemned the “terrible shooting” on X, and said the shooter would be “tracked down.”

“An investigation by the police and the public prosecutor’s office is underway. I am monitoring the situation and the measures to be taken from the National Crisis Centre,” she wrote.

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo described attack “cowardly” and asked citizens to be “vigilant”.

Police spokeswoman Ilse Vande Keere said officers arrived soon at the scene, and sealed off the immediate neighborhood, though were able to provide further information.

Dutch-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) reported that the perpatrator of the crimes had released a video on Facebook, in which he claimed to be a member of IS. The man said he had shot the people “avenge the Muslims”.

It comes at a time of heightened politcal and religious tension around the world, following the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas, and ensuing conflict.