Key facts
- A man was arrested at Brussels' Gare du Midi with a Kalashnikov rifle in his luggage.
- The suspect arrived by train from France.
- The motive for carrying the weapon is currently unknown.
- Interior Minister Bernard Quintin cited the arrest as justification for increased security patrols.
Police arrested a man at Brussels' Gare du Midi after customs officers discovered a Kalashnikov rifle in his bag during a routine security check. The suspect had recently arrived by train from France. His motive for carrying the weapon remains unknown, and he was not brandishing it within the station. The incident has been seized upon by Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, who used the arrest to advocate for the continuation and potential expansion of joint security patrols involving military personnel at Brussels' train and metro stations, citing it as crucial for safety. Gare du Midi, a major international rail hub, has a history of crime and insecurity, with thousands of offenses recorded annually in recent years, including theft, extortion, and drug-related incidents. The arrest follows a recent spate of gun violence in the nearby Saint-Gilles area.