On Wednesday night, a man was shot with 17 bullets in the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht, possibly with Kalashnikovs. The getaway car was found hours later, completely burnt out.
A man was shot dead on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, at around 01:10, while driving on rue Wayez, in Anderlecht. A car with four men on board trapped his car, after which they got out and fired their Kalashnikovs at the victim. The man was riddled with 17 bullets and died on the spot, the local police Brussels South (Anderlecht/Sint-Gillis/Vorst) confirmed.
"Our services were indeed called to rue Wayez in Anderlecht last night for a shooting," they said. "The victim died of his injuries at the scene." A total of 19 shell casings were found near the car.
The suspects fled the scene, and their vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf, was later found in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, burnt out. The judicial lab of the Federal Police was on the scene to register the incident, while the Federal Judicial Police of Brussels is conducting the investigation, said police spokesperson Sarah Frederickx. There is currently no trace of the gunmen.
Series of incidents
This week alone, there were already three shootings in Anderlecht, according to Het Nieuwbslad.
In the Peterbos neighbourhood, at least eight shots were fired, although there were no injuries. More than likely, these were drug-related violence. Shots were also fired in Doverstraat, near rue Wayez, this week, again no one was injured. The cases are possibly linked.
The shootings took place near Brussels Midi railway station, which had made headlines in recent weeks for the rising feelings of insecurity felt by locals and tourists, who arrive here by train or bus. In response to the situation in and around the site, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo sat with various competent ministers and authorities with an action plan to tackle the situation, the results of which were presented last Thursday.
A new police station will be set up near the Brussels-Midi Railway Station as part of 22 concrete measures to tackle the issues in this neighbourhood, while an alcohol ban in and around the station is being considered.
