Originally published October 17, 2023 8:08 am PDT
Brussels was rocked by a brutal incident on Monday evening when a gunman unleashed terror in the city, killing two Swedish soccer fans and wounding a taxi driver.
The assailant, identified as Abdesalem Lassoued, a 45-year-old Tunisian illegal immigrant, was subsequently shot by the police, ending his 12-hour flight from justice.
Lassoued approached a busy intersection at approximately 7:15 pm, riding on his scooter.
There, he began firing an automatic assault rifle, tragically ending the lives of two Swedish visitors.
These individuals were in Brussels for the European Championship qualifier match between Belgium and Sweden, hosted at Heysel Stadium that night.
Videos taken by onlookers show Lassoued, distinguishable in a bright orange jacket and a white helmet, wreaking havoc in the city.
After the attack, he was seen speeding away on his scooter, shouting “Allahu Akbar,” according to Remix News.
Soon after the incident, a video in Arabic emerged where Lassoued articulated his motives for the attack.
Sudinfo, a local news outlet, reported the content of his message: “In his very violent speech, he said he had shot two people to ‘avenge the Muslims and that we live and die for our religion.’”
The horror of the evening extended to Heysel Stadium where the match was halted mid-way.
Fans were held within the venue’s confines until the early hours of the next morning, only allowed to exit under police escort around 4 a.m.
On Tuesday, Belgium’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the gunman’s demise.
A spokesperson for the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office stated, “We can confirm that he is dead, he was shot by Belgian police. A weapon was also found during the intervention.”
Despite this, the investigation continues in full swing, with HLN, a Belgian news source, noting that authorities are probing the possibility of an accomplice involved in the incident.
Belgian Interior Minister, Annelies Verlinden, expressed similar concerns, stating, “We cannot rule out that there are accomplices.”
Further insights into Lassoued’s background raise questions.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo disclosed that Lassoued had unsuccessfully sought asylum in Belgium in 2019, the Remix report notes
His application was denied, yet he continued to live in the country illegally for the next three years.
Even more concerning was his known radicalization threat, ties to human trafficking, assault on state security officers, and a past criminal record linked to terrorism in Tunisia.
Reflecting on the tragic events, De Croo shared a heartfelt message, emphasizing the unity of the nations: “We offer our unwavering solidarity in the face of this blind hatred. We will counter terrorism together with even greater determination.”
