2023-10-17 19:48:09
The radicalized man suspected of killing two Swedes in an attack Monday evening and who was shot dead by police Tuesday morning in Brussels probably acted in ” lone wolf “said the Belgian authorities on Tuesday October 17.
“The lone wolf thesis seems closest to reality”, said federal prosecutor Frédéric Van Leeuw, during a press conference after a national security council. At this stage there is no “no indication on a network” who would be at the origin of the attack, added the Belgian Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne.
Two Swedish fans killed, third injured
The attacker, a 45-year-old Tunisian presented by the media as Abdesalem Lassoued, was illegally staying in Belgium after the rejection of an asylum request in 2020, and targeted by an order to leave the territory which was never been executed. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called for better application of these decisions for those who do not have “no right to protection”. Such an order “must become more restrictive”said the Flemish liberal leader.
The double homicide, described as “cowardly attack” by Alexander De Croo, took place not far from downtown Brussels on Monday shortly after 7 p.m., a few hours before a football match between Belgium and Sweden at the King Baudouin stadium. The attacker shot dead two Swedish supporters with an automatic weapon and injured a third before fleeing on a scooter.
The manhunt lasted around twelve hours, until the Tunisian was spotted shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday by a witness in a café in the Brussels commune of Schaerbeek, where he lived. During the police intervention “shots were fired and the suspect was shot”, specified the federal prosecutor’s office. He was transferred to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:38 a.m.
A video message of demand posted on social networks
“An AR-15 type war weapon” was found in the café where the arrest took place, said Frédéric Van Leeuw. There were a total of four searches after the attack and two people from the suspected shooter’s entourage were arrested for questioning.
As of Monday evening, a video message of demand was posted on social networks by a man “presenting himself as the attacker and claiming to be inspired by the Islamic State”, again according to the federal prosecutor’s office, responsible for terrorism cases. The terrorist threat was then raised to level 4, considered ” very serious “, – maximum level – in the Brussels region. She was moved back to Level 3 on Tuesday after the suspect’s death.
In the morning, a minute of silence was observed by the European Parliament meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg. And such moments of contemplation in memory of the two victims were also planned for Tuesday evening before all the qualifying matches for Euro-2024. On Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, whose country is in shock, is expected in Brussels for a joint tribute with Alexander De Croo planned for the morning at Place Sainctelette, near the scene of the attack.
Tensions in Sweden following Koran burnings
“Never in recent history have Sweden and Swedish interests been as threatened as they are today”, underlined Ulf Kristersson to the press in Stockholm. In the suspect’s claim video, the Swedish nationality of the victims was mentioned as “probable motivation for the act”a link being established with the desecrations of the Koran in Sweden which moved the Muslim world, noted the Belgian authorities.
On August 17, Sweden had to raise its terrorist risk alert level to four on a scale of five due to the tensions aroused by the Koran burnings that have occurred on its soil since the start of the year. The desecrations dealt a blow to relations with several Muslim countries, with the Swedish embassy in Baghdad having been set on fire in July while a Molotov cocktail targeted the representation in Beirut in August.
On Tuesday, the Swedish intelligence services also mentioned the brief stay in this country ” ten years ago “ by the attacker from Brussels, who “was able to use multiple identities” while traveling in Europe. Belgium has already been the target of several attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. The deadliest (35 dead) was perpetrated on March 22, 2016, when Brussels was hit by a double suicide attack at Zaventem airport and in the metro in the middle of the European district.
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