Belgian Prime Minister: “He will be a lone wolf…” “There is no imminent threat.”
Prosecutors are investigating the relationship between the Israeli-Palestinian war and the Quran burning protests.
IS: Fighters attack Swedes… “Operation targeting EU nationals”
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander Dirkro predicted that two people were killed in a shooting targeting a Swede in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. On the other hand, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility through propaganda media.
According to the Guardian on the 17th (local time), regarding the suspect in the shooting incident that took place the previous day, Prime Minister Dirk said at a press conference, “He is probably a lone wolf,” and dismissed the possibility of organized involvement by a criminal organization.
He said, “We succeeded in neutralizing the criminal. “Therefore, there was no longer an imminent threat,” he explained, “but copycat actions cannot be ruled out.”
Accordingly, the security threat level in Brussels was adjusted from level 4 to level 3, one level lower. However, with the issuance of threat level 3, additional security personnel will be deployed to major facilities such as the European Union (EU) headquarters.
However, it is reported that the prosecution is still investigating whether this criminal act was influenced by the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas. Previously, investigators confirmed that the suspect claimed to be a ‘fighter of Allah (the one god of Islam)’ in a social media video.
Belgian federal prosecutors said on this day, “We initially said it would have nothing to do with the Gaza incident, but we confirmed that the perpetrator shared several expressions of support for Palestine on social media,” adding, “Therefore, (the war) may have had an impact.” “He expressed a cautious stance.
At the same time, he said, “We are considering all possible options,” and left open the possibility that the cause was not a war, but a protest against the burning of the Islamic holy book, the Quran, which occurred in Sweden.
Regarding this incident, IS claimed responsibility through its propaganda media Amaq, saying, “IS fighters attacked Swedish citizens,” and “This attack was carried out in the context of an operation in which IS targeted citizens of (European) allied countries.” .
“Now is the time to strengthen (European) security,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said before attending a memorial service in Brussels. “We cannot be naive.”
“We have openness to Europe,” he said. That’s why we need to keep an eye on the EU’s external borders,” he said. “Terrorists are trying to scare us into submission and silence. “That won’t happen,” he emphasized.
The crime occurred the day before, when Belgium and Sweden were playing a Group F match at the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.
A 45-year-old man from Tunisia opened fire with an automatic rifle, killing two Swedish soccer fans and wounding a taxi driver. The suspect, who fled on a scooter after the crime, was shot dead by police the next day in an area near downtown Brussels.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.