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Drug trafficking violence in Brussels

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2026-08-25 09:53 UTC → 2026-08-25 16:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Brussels has seen a surge in violent incidents, including multiple shootings and arson, linked to organized crime and drug trafficking disputes. In the Anderlecht district, an automatic weapon was used to fire upon a police station, an act Brussels Prosecutor Julien Moinil described as a possible attempt to “destabilize the authorities.” Violence has recently escalated in Saint-Gilles, which experienced three consecutive days of gun violence. On Monday evening, an automatic weapon was fired near a pizza restaurant, forcing customers to take cover. This followed a Saturday shooting at the same location that wounded a man in the leg, and a Sunday morning incident near Porte de Hal where a bullet entered a residential window. Local officials have attributed the violence to conflicts between drug gangs. Mayor Jean Spinette, expressing fury over the situation, stated “Brussels must be respected.” He is calling for increased resources, including 80 additional officers for criminal investigations, expanded capacity in juvenile detention centers, and enhanced powers for the public prosecutor’s office to trace criminal networks and deport undocumented migrants involved in crime. Police Chief Jurgen De Landsheer suggested these retaliatory actions may have been triggered by increased pressure on drug gangs during the summer. The situation has highlighted resource concerns within the Brussels South police zone, with Interior Minister Bernard Quintin describing the violence as “totally unacceptable.” To address security concerns, he has allocated 1 million euros for new surveillance cameras in the South zone. By August 2026, the scale of the crisis has become more apparent, with 57 shootings recorded in the first seven months of the year. This frequency suggests the city may exceed previous records for violence. Recent incidents have expanded to include shootings in Molenbeek, as gangs engage in territorial wars to reclaim areas lost to recent arrests.

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