Just a few days after the shooting near Porte de Hal in the Marolles neighbourhood in Brussels this weekend, a second shooting was reported near the park surrounding the monument on Tuesday afternoon.
Gunshots were heard on Tuesday afternoon at Porte de Hal in Brussels, La Libre reports and the Brussels Midi police zone confirmed to The Brussels Times. It is not yet clear what exactly happened. Police are currently on scene, but will not give any information at this time in the interest of the investigation.
"According to initial reports, shots were fired but no one was injured," Stefan Vandevelde, spokesperson for the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office. "The perpetrators fled in a vehicle. During their flight, a woman and several cars were hit."
The police chased the suspects' vehicle to Anderlecht, where it was neutralised, Le Soir reports. In the vehicle, military-grade weapons were reportedly discovered.
After learning of the incident, the Public Prosecutor ordered the first investigative actions: the interrogation of witnesses, the camera examination and the intervention of the laboratory of the Federal Judicial Police. A ballistics expert was also appointed.
"The investigation is actively continuing, aiming to determine the exact circumstances of the incident. In the interest of the investigation, the public prosecutor's office will not provide any further comment on this case," Vandevelde said.
The shooting occurred just before 14:00 at the Square Jacques Frank, not far from the Chaussée de Forest.
The intersection of the Chaussée de Forest and Rue de l'Eglise Saint-Gilles is a well-known "drive-in," where people come to buy drugs, Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette told Bruzz. Therefore, he thinks there is a good chance that the violence is drug-related. Spinette is organising a meeting with local residents at 18:00, where he hopes to be able to answer their questions.
On Sunday, the shooting at the intersection of Rue Lacaille and Boulevard du Midi (near Brussels-Midi station) left two people seriously injured.
