In brief
A shooting outside the Clemenceau metro station prompts heightened security measures in Brussels.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, police in Brussels launched a manhunt after two masked gunmen opened fire near the Clemenceau metro station, sparking panic and response. Despite multiple shots fired with what appeared to be rifles, miraculously no injuries were reported. The incident took place in the Anderlecht area of southwest Brussels, where surveillance footage captured the two assailants holding rifles, later identified as Kalashnikovs. The footage showed them circling the area and discharging rounds without targeting any specific individuals, indicating a chaotic scene. An official statement from Willemien Baert, a spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office, clarified that the motivation behind the shootout does not seem to stem from a terrorist agenda. Law enforcement officials collected numerous bullet casings from the site, prompting the temporary closure of both the Clemenceau and Gare du Midi metro stations to facilitate a comprehensive investigation. This disruption lasted for about four hours until authorities secured the area. The rapid response from police and quick lockdown of metro operations reflects the city’s preparedness for such violent events. As the manhunt continues, residents and commuters in Brussels remain on heightened alert.
