Escalating Violence in Brussels: “Execution-Style” Attack in Municipality of Sint-Gillis

The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, fell victim to what Mayor Jean Spinette described as an “execution-style” attack.

Jean Spinette (via Facebook).

Mayor Spinette, a Francophone socialist, expressed grave concern over the escalating violence, labelling Tuesday’s shooting as an act of intimidation and Wednesday’s as a targeted execution.

“The Federal Judicial Police are at the scene and are investigating the incident,” Mayor Spinette stated, emphasising the gravity of the situation.

The recent spate of violence appears to revolve around a power struggle among drug dealers vying for control of the Jacques Franckplein, a square in Sint-Gillis.

Spinette revealed that the dealers involved are not merely local operators but are linked to international networks.

Tuesday’s incident saw the brazen firing of a military-grade firearm into the air, followed by a reckless escape that endangered innocent lives.

Despite efforts by law enforcement to apprehend suspects, Spinette lamented the dealers’ audacity, noting their swift return to the scene to resume illicit activities.

“The dealers appear to feel that they are untouchable,” Spinette remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by authorities in tackling organised crime and the escalating violence effectively.

“After yesterday’s incident they returned to the park almost straight away and started dealing again. I asked the police to act, and they detained someone yesterday evening. However, the dealers returned again afterwards. Once again, I call for this problem to be addressed seriously across the board by the police and the judicial authorities”.

The situation is further compounded by the sheer scale of policing demands across the municipality.

Spinette acknowledged the limitations faced by law enforcement in overseeing numerous locations simultaneously, making it difficult to prevent such incidents.

Wednesday’s tragedy adds to the growing list of violent episodes in the vicinity, with two individuals sustaining serious injuries in a separate shooting just days prior in the Marollen area.

Witnesses to these incidents reported encountering masked assailants, indicating a degree of premeditation and coordination.

In 2023, seven people were killed and 131 injured in Brussels in drug-related violence, according to police figures quoted by Le Soir newspaper.

Last year, the federal police dedicated nearly 25% of its investigation capacity to drug-related cases across the country, according to new data released on Thursday.

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Read also: Tackling the Alarming Rise of Drug Addiction in Brussels Metro Stations

The presence of hallucinating individuals wielding weapons, coupled with the pervasive smell of drugs, has created an atmosphere of fear and unease among passengers.

In response to this crisis, various stakeholders, including authorities, the Red Cross, volunteers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have mobilized efforts to address the issue.

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