Belgium’s Interior Minister, Bernard Quintin (MR), has said the government is prepared to deploy soldiers to support police in Brussels amid a rise in drug-related shootings. The proposal forms part of a new “Plan for Major Cities” that also includes an expanded camera network and specialist police teams.
Quintin told Belgian media that mixed police–military patrols would concentrate on defined hotspots, notably around metro stations and in districts repeatedly affected by gun violence, such as Clémenceau and Peterbos in Anderlecht, as well as areas around North Station, Bonnevie Park in Molenbeek and Matongé. He said similar deployments could be requested by Antwerp, Ghent, Liège, Charleroi and Mons.
The announcement follows a series of incidents that pushed the safety debate to the fore. On 5 February 2025, gunfire near Clémenceau station led to partial closures across the metro network while police searched tunnels for suspects. Subsequent shootings occurred in the same area, including a fatal attack on 15 February.
According to the Brussels public prosecutor’s office, there have been 57 shootings in the capital since the start of 2025, with 20 recorded since the beginning of summer. Prosecutor Julien Moinil warned on 12 August that “any resident can become a victim”, urging additional resources for policing and prosecution.
Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) has confirmed that a legal framework for military support to civil power is ready and will be presented to the Council of Ministers. At present, Belgian law does not grant soldiers police powers; ministers say the draft sets out clear roles and rules of engagement for soldiers operating in support of public security.
Reaction to the plan has been mixed. Neighbourhood committees in Brussels, which have pressed for federal action, welcomed the focus on large cities and the investment in surveillance cameras. The ACMP military union said “the homework is not finished”, pointing to unresolved questions about soldiers’ mandate and legal protection when assisting police. Senior police in Brussels South expressed conditional support, arguing that a military presence could free officers for investigative work.
Earlier this week, military unions publicly questioned proposals to place soldiers in drug hotspots, citing the absence of an established legal basis and warning against deploying personnel without defined powers. The Brussels Times reported concerns about personal liability and rules of engagement if soldiers were required to intervene.
Belgium has precedent for visible troop deployments. From 2015 to 2021, Operation Vigilant Guardian placed soldiers at sensitive sites nationwide in response to the terrorist threat. The current proposal differs in purpose, targeting organised crime rather than counter-terrorism, but would again put military personnel on city streets in a supporting role.
Quintin’s plan also earmarks €20 million to expand and integrate municipal CCTV systems into a national register to improve monitoring and coordination. In Brussels, he indicated priority coverage around transport nodes and districts where shootings have been concentrated this year. Belga reported that ministers intend to review outcomes against trends in gun violence once the measures are in place.
Events in February underscored the operational challenge for the capital’s transport network. On 5 February, a manhunt for armed suspects prompted temporary closures on several metro lines; further incidents near Clémenceau followed, including injuries and one fatality later that month. Prosecutors have said the violence is linked to turf conflicts among criminal groups.
Next steps depend on cabinet consideration of the draft law and formal delineation of roles between Interior and Defence. Officials say any patrols would be joint, time-limited and confined to specified areas, with the option to extend elements of the plan to other cities subject to local demand.
Brussels Gun Violence Escalates: Another Shooting at Clemenceau Metro Despite Heavy Police Presence
