Brussels police intercepted a person with a SIG-Manurhin assault rifle during a check in the Marolles on Wednesday, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Thursday following reports in several Belgian media. It is not clear whether there is a link to the shootings in the area in recent days.
A police check was carried out at 16:45 on Wednesday in the Rue des Tonneliers in the Marolles neighbourhood, at the well-known Place du Jeu de Balle, during which plainclothes police intercepted an individual with an assault rifle.
"Given this person's suspicious behaviour, the police decided to intercept the person," said Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Yasmina Vanoverschelde. "At the time of arrest, the man was in possession of a SIG-Manurhin firearm. The weapon found was not loaded."
The Brussels Prosecutor's Office was informed and ordered the Federal Judicial Police laboratory to analyse the weapon. An investigation was opened for offences of prohibited carrying of weapons.
"After an interrogation, the investigating judge decided to place the suspect under arrest," Vanoverschelde added. At the moment, it is not clear whether these facts can be linked or related to the shootings in Brussels in recent days. "The investigation will have to reveal this."
In the interest of the investigation, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office will not comment further in this case.
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There has been a lot of unrest in the neighbourhood for several days in the wake of various shootings in the area in recent days.
On Sunday evening, a shooting took place in the Marolles in which two people were seriously injured. On Tuesday afternoon, a weapon of war was fired into the air at Jacques Franck Square in Saint-Gilles, a few steps from the Porte de Hal.
Later, on Tuesday night at around 01:30, the third shooting followed on the Boulevard du Midi, in which there were no casualties. Then on Wednesday morning, one man was shot dead, again at the Square Jacques Franck. On Tuesday evening, more than 100 local residents gathered at a neighbourhood meeting to express their concerns to Saint-Gilles mayor Jean Spinette (PS) and the local police.
Update: This article was updated at 18:00 following a press release from the Public Prosecutor's Office.
