The last Swedish fans left the King Baudouin stadium around 04:00 on Tuesday morning following the terror attack in Brussels on Monday night, the Swedish Football Federation has said.
The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was suspended at half-time with the score tied at 1-1, following the shooting of two Swedish citizens near Place Sainctelette at approximately 19:15.
Credit: Belga / Bruno Fahy
The fans already inside the King Baudouin stadium were ordered to stay put until the start of the evacuation at 23:30. The last Swedish fans left the stadium around 04:00 under police escort. Police surveillance was subsequently reinforced in front of the fans' hotels.
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"The cooperation between the fans, the federations and the authorities has been very good in an extremely tense situation," said Martin Fredman, head of security for the Swedish FA. He added that about 400 Swedes received help from the Belgian authorities over the course of the evening.
On X (formerly Twitter), both the Belgian and the Swedish FAs expressed their condolences for the victims and their families.
Due to the incidents in Brussels earlier tonight, play is suspended. Our thoughts are with all those affected. pic.twitter.com/RTZHBEjjOC
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 16, 2023
The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, has also called on his compatriots in Belgium to be cautious and vigilant, according to the Swedish news agency TT.
"Swedes in Belgium are asked to be vigilant and to follow the instructions of the Belgian authorities carefully," he said. "My thoughts are with the deceased, the injured and their loved ones this evening."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, had already written on social media that the Swedish authorities were working with their Belgian counterparts to find the perpetrator. Swedish citizens in Belgium also received a text message containing the same recommendations as the Prime Minister.
