Saint-Gilles mayor Jean Spinette expressed distress after a shooting near Bruxelles-Midi train station, marking the third consecutive day of violence. The Belgian Interior Minister linked the shootings to drug criminals retaliating against intensified police raids.
The escalating gun violence in Brussels, linked to drug trafficking and police crackdowns, highlights significant security challenges and the ongoing struggle against organized crime in the region.
Gun violence has disrupted the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles for three consecutive days, prompting an urgent plea for assistance from Mayor Jean Spinette. On Monday night, two individuals were injured near the Bruxelles-Midi train station when a gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon. This incident follows a shooting on Saturday evening in the same vicinity that injured one man, and another shot fired nearby on Sunday morning which struck an apartment window.
Mayor Spinette described the severity of the situation, telling reporters, “A guy fired a Kalashnikov in front of children in my village. There are bullet holes in the ground.” Customers at a local pizzeria were forced to take cover on the floor during the shooting. The attacker had not been apprehended as of Tuesday morning.
Saint-Gilles has a history of drug-related violence, particularly around the train station. In June 2024, two people were killed and three injured in a similar incident authorities linked to drug trafficking. Despite increased police presence following that event, Mayor Spinette stated that reinforcements have been requested for three years. The municipality has increased its annual contribution to the police force by €1.8 million, and approximately 700 officers serve the area. However, at least 66 shootings have been recorded across the wider Brussels region in 2026.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin attributed the recent violence to drug criminals retaliating against intensified police operations. "Drug criminals are issuing threats because we are disrupting their operations," Quintin told VRT. "We must continue this fight with determination. It will be a long one." He confirmed that 77 additional officers have been dispatched to Brussels, with further deployments under consideration.