The Brussels Prosecutor's Office is investigating a possible shooting – the third one in as many days – in the centre of the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean municipality: on Saturday evening, residents heard gunshots, after which a police chase ensued.
The exact circumstances of the incident on Saturday in the Rue de l'Ecole neighbourhood in Molenbeek are still very unclear. Neighbours heard several gunshots at around 22:00, after which police began pursuit of two suspects who drove away in a Peugeot 508.
The pursuit ended in Vilvoorde (just outside of the Brussels-Capital Region), where the two people in the car were apprehended. There is no information about possible casualties.
"At this stage of the investigation, the Brussels Prosecutor's Office cannot establish a link between the explosions heard on Saturday night and the chase that followed," Yasmina Vanoverschelde of the Brussels Prosecutor's Office told Belga News Agency.
Investigation still ongoing
Detectives found a firearm on the escape route from Molenbeek to Vilvoorde, presumably belonging to one of the two suspects. Whether that weapon was used in the shooting, however, remains unclear for now.
"The suspected passenger was released after questioning by the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the suspected driver was arraigned before the investigating judge, who charged him with the possession of stolen goods," Vanoverschelde said.
"Initial elements of the investigation showed that he was driving a stolen vehicle. The man was eventually released by the investigating judge under conditions."
In the meantime, the investigation continues.
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The shooting that took place on Saturday night is the third shooting in Molenbeek in three days. During the night from Thursday to Friday, shots were fired around midnight in the vicinity of Bonnevie Park, injuring one person. The victim was taken to hospital but their life was not in danger.
The following night, from Friday to Saturday, a second shooting took place, in the area around Rue Vanderdussen near metro stop Étangs Noirs/Zwarte Vijvers. People in a car with a French registration plate fired four bullets at a man walking on the street at around 23:30 and shot his leg.
It is suspected that the shootings are related to tensions in the drug environment.
