Brussels news and social media channels yesterday were awash with images of Kalashnikov-toting gunmen in the Clémenceau metro station in a shooting that again pushed public safety to the fore. And as if to confirm that Brussels is indeed a Wild West, the same happened this morning, though this time a handgun was the weapon of choice. One person was shot in the leg.
In the wake of Wednesday's incident, residents had already told The Brussels Times that Anderlecht (the municipality where the shootings have taken place) is afflicted by rampant drug trafficking and violence. This much is bleedingly obvious, as well as the clear disregard the gangs have for ineffectual policing efforts.
One person spoke of a lack of control, saying that the area has "cafés that cover their windows to hide what is going on inside, or hairdressers that are actually involved in completely different shady business." The Anderlecht mayor referred to the highly lucrative trade, that has pumped money into the dealing networks and brought more deadly weapons.
As covered last year, Brussels is part of a much bigger trafficking network that is believed to spread beyond Belgium. Authorities are quick to point out that tackling the issue must be done in cooperation with other police forces and tight control of the entire smuggling chain. But with every shooting we must also ask whether enough is being done at the local level.
The division of Brussels police zones rather than having a unified regional force seems increasingly hopeless in the face of such crime. But still mayors cling to the existing separation of local zones – something that the new Minister of Foreign Affairs has said is incomprehensible. And he's not alone.
The new public prosecutor expressed frustration about an "incoherent" justice system in which prison sentences fail to serve as a deterrent, largely because sentences aren't served to their completion. "Impunity is the enemy of the rule of law," he said in a radio interview, describing how repeat offenders get off lightly, undermining authority. "Ultimately it's citizens that pay," he warned.
And whilst these shootings have been framed as a "wake-up call to start negotiating for a Brussels government again", one doubts if anything can shake the warring factions from their stand-off.
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1. New shooting near Brussels metro station Clémenceau, one injured
"In 24 hours we had three shootings: two in Anderlecht and one in Saint-Josse." Read more.
2. ‘People care less for each other’: Brussels residents speak out after shootings
"In Brussels, thousands of people choose to waste their lives on drugs like crack. We need to ask ourselves why." Read more.
3. ‘Bullet hole in child’s bedroom wall’: Politicians urged to prioritise rising drug violence
"You go to work, you take the underground, you see weapons of war... I can imagine how shocking that can be," stated the new Brussels Prosecutor on Thursday. Read more.
4. Marathon debate in Belgian Parliament still ongoing at 09:15
Discussions on the new Federal Government began on Wednesday at 10:00 and were still ongoing at 09:15 on Thursday. Read more.
5. Energy island: Elia’s decisions have increased costs by €1.6 billion
The Energy Regulatory Commission (Creg) states that the surge in the project’s costs is not solely due to market conditions. Read more.
6. De Wever’s government – self-appointed strongmen, for self-appointed strongmen
"Well well. As if there was no competent woman to be found with enough merit to hold the position of vice-prime minister." Read more.
7. Brussels-Venice night train launch derailed by border bureaucracy
"This is not the best start to this journey." Read more.
