Brussels ‘on highest terror alert’ and football fans told to stay in stadium after two shot dead | World News

The Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden was deserted at half-time following the deadly capturing in central Brussels on Monday night time.
By James Robinson, Sky News reporter @thejournojames
Police in Belgium have launched a manhunt after two Swedish individuals have been shot dead in a terror assault in Brussels.
The capturing precipitated Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Sweden to be deserted at half-time on Monday night time.
Fans have been additionally stored in the stadium as armed officers looked for the suspected shooter – who has not but been discovered.
The capturing passed off about three miles (5km) from the 50,000-seater King Baudouin Stadium shortly after 7pm native time – round 45 minutes earlier than kick-off.
Shortly after, a person who claimed to be the shooter appeared on social media in a video in which he claimed to be a member of Islamic State (IS) and a “fighter for Allah”.
He additionally claimed he had carried out the assault in “revenge in the name of Muslims”.
One Belgium newspaper mentioned a witness heard the shooter shout “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” in Arabic – earlier than the pictures have been fired.
Another video, reported to be of the incident, which has not been verified by Sky News, confirmed a gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket and a white helmet chasing a person right into a constructing earlier than capturing at him.
Moments earlier than deadly Brussels capturing
Belgium’s inside minister, Annelies Verlinden, mentioned the suspect was “actively being tracked down”.
Belgium’s National Crisis Centre raised the terror alert in the town to the highest degree on Monday night time. It was additionally moved to the second highest for the remainder of Belgium.
A spokesperson for Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s workplace told reporters that the investigation was specializing in “a possible terrorist motivation for the shooting”.
Eric Van Duyse mentioned: “During the evening, a claim of responsibility was posted on social media, having been recorded by a person claiming to be the assailant. This person claims to be inspired by Islamic State.”
He mentioned the Swedish nationality of the victims had been put ahead because the possible motive for the assault – however mentioned there was nothing to counsel a potential link with the present scenario between Israel and Gaza.
A police spokesperson confirmed that two individuals had been killed in a capturing, however declined to give additional particulars.
The nation’s prime minister, Alexander de Croo, in the meantime, appeared to link the incident to terrorism.
In a submit on X, previously referred to as Twitter, he wrote: “I’ve simply supplied my honest condolences to the Swedish prime minister following tonight’s harrowing assault on Swedish residents in Brussels.
“Our ideas are with the households and associates who misplaced their family members. As shut companions, the struggle in opposition to terrorism is a joint one.”
In an earlier submit, he supplied his “deepest condolences” to the relatives of those killed in what he described as a “cowardly assault”.
He additionally urged the residents of Brussels to “be vigilant”.
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Swedish justice minister, Gunnar Strommer, mentioned his authorities was working with authorities in Belgium “to get extra details about what occurred”.
Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, urged Swedes in Belgium to stay vigilant and comply with the directions of the native authorities.
Meanwhile, France’s President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as an “Islamist terrorist attack”.
Speaking in Albania on Monday night – days after his personal nation was rocked by the deadly stabbing of a instructor in a suspected terror assault – Mr Macron mentioned: “Europe is being shaken”.
The capturing in Brussels passed off close to Boulevard d’Ypres – in an space to the north of the town centre.
The space is round three miles (5km) from the King Baudouin Stadium, the place the Euro 2024 qualifier was held.
A UEFA spokesperson confirmed the sport had been suspended on Monday.
In a press release, UEFA mentioned: “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 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.”
Sweden coach Janne Andersson later told Swedish web site Fotbollskanalen: “We can’t play football in this situation. We and Belgium completely agree that we shouldn’t play.”
Laura Demullier, of Belgium’s OCAD anti-terror centre, mentioned getting the hundreds of football fans attending the match safely out of the stadium was their high precedence.
Over two hours after the sport was suspended, a message flashed on the large stadium display screen which mentioned: “Fans, you can leave the stadium calmly.”
Sweden has in latest months confronted rioting following a string of Koran-burning incidents in each Sweden and neighbouring Denmark.
Muslim leaders in Sweden have known as on the federal government to discover methods to cease the Koran burnings, however police have allowed them, citing freedom of speech.