A shooting took place in the Brussels municipality of Schaerbeek on Sunday night, various media report and the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed.
The incident has nothing to do with the drug-related shootings in Anderlecht over the past few weeks. It was the Brussels North police (Schaerbeek/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode/Evere) who opened fire on a suspect of a robbery when he tried to drive into the officers, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
"On Sunday 16 February, just before midnight, the police from the Brussels North zone were called to a theft in a supermarket on Rue Waelhem," said Public Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Martin François. "When they arrived, three suspects were in front of the store. Two suspects fled on foot and the third suspect fled in a vehicle."
The latter then took off at full speed along the sidewalk, endangering the physical integrity of the police officers and pedestrians. "The police officers then decided to use their firearms against the vehicle, which drove into a pole."
After the accident, the driver of the fleeing vehicle was taken to hospital for treatment. "His life is not in danger. The two perpetrators who fled on foot were also intercepted."
In the interest of the ongoing investigation, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office will not comment further.
