A man mourns for victims of Monday evening's shooting in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 17, 2023. Belgium's Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect in Monday evening's shooting in Brussels that resulted in two deaths and one injury has been identified and is deceased. The killing of the two Swedes in Brussels was "a terror attack aimed at Sweden and Swedes," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday at a press conference. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
BRUSSELS/STOCKHOLM, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Belgium's Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect in Monday evening's shooting in Brussels that resulted in two deaths and one injury has been identified and is deceased.
Shortly after 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) Tuesday morning, a witness informed the Brussels police that they had spotted the suspect. The police went to the location, and during the intervention, shots were fired by the police, resulting in the death of the suspect, according to the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office.
The killing of the two Swedes in Brussels was "a terror attack aimed at Sweden and Swedes," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday at a press conference.
The suspect was identified as a 45-year-old man of Tunisian origin. He resided in the Schaerbeek municipality of Brussels and was in Belgium illegally. His asylum request had been rejected in 2020.
He had also spent time in Sweden, where he was not on the radar of the Swedish Police, Kristersson said at the press conference, making a case for stricter border controls.
The shooting occurred on Monday around 7:15 p.m. local time (1715 GMT), before a football match between the Belgian Red Devils and the Swedish team at the King Baudouin Stadium. Two Swedish supporters were shot with a firearm by the assailant, who managed to escape.
The Belgian authorities have raised the threat level to its maximum, which is level 4. Security measures remain in effect on Tuesday, with increased vigilance and heightened police presence. ■
This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2023 shows a bullet hole of Monday evening's shooting in Brussels, Belgium. Belgium's Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect in Monday evening's shooting in Brussels that resulted in two deaths and one injury has been identified and is deceased.
The killing of the two Swedes in Brussels was "a terror attack aimed at Sweden and Swedes," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday at a press conference. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
A man checks the bullet hole of Monday evening's shooting in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 17, 2023. Belgium's Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect in Monday evening's shooting in Brussels that resulted in two deaths and one injury has been identified and is deceased.
The killing of the two Swedes in Brussels was "a terror attack aimed at Sweden and Swedes," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday at a press conference. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
