Following the three shootings that took place in the Brussels-Capital Region in 24 hours, the mayor of the City of Brussels Philippe Close (PS) wants "unity of command" to tackle the drug-related violence.
On Thursday morning, Close invited the 18 other mayors of Brussels to a meeting at 17:30 about the shootings of the 24 hours in two (Clémenceau in Anderlecht, and Saint-Josse) neighbourhoods in the Capital Region.
In consultation with Brussels' new Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil, he wants to propose a plan of "unity of command" in Brussels, according to reports by the Belga News Agency. The six Brussels chiefs of police have also been invited.
Drug-related
The first shooting took place at the Clémenceau metro station in Anderlecht early on Wednesday morning, with images from surveillance cameras showing two people opening fire with assault rifles outside the station. There were no injuries.
Earlier that same night, around 01:15, two people were injured during a shooting in Saint Josse-ten-Noode. Both were taken to hospital but their lives are not in danger. The perpetrator(s) managed to escape.
Then, around 03:30 on Thursday, a second shooting incident took place near the same metro station in Anderlecht. One person was injured in the leg, but his life is not in danger. It was reportedly a construction worker who was hit by a stray bullet, BX1 reports. The shot was fired from a handgun and 9mm shells were found.
According to Prosecutor Moinil, the three shootings are linked to drug trafficking "given the location of the incidents."
