A suspected terrorist attack took place in Brussels on Monday evening, resulting in the deaths of two Swedish nationals and the critical injury of another.
The attacker, identified as Abdesalem Lassoued, an illegal alien from Tunisia, opened fire on the victims in what appears to be an act of terrorism. Lassoued allegedly claimed online that his actions were partly in response to the murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian boy in Chicago over the weekend.
Lassoued, who had been living illegally in Schaerbeek, Belgium, had applied for asylum in 2019 but was denied. He was known to the police for human trafficking, illegal residency, and endangering state security. In 2016, a foreign service had designated him as a radical, expressing his desire to travel to a conflict zone for jihad. He also had a previous terrorism conviction in Tunisia.
Tunisia, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country, is home to various Islamic terror factions, including Ansar al-Sharia, ISIS, and al Qaeda, according to the CIA Factbook.
Despite authorities being aware of Lassoued's possible radicalization and criminal activities for at least seven years, no action was taken. Following his failed asylum application, Lassoued disappeared before he could be deported.
The attack occurred near Place Sainctelette, where a soccer match between Sweden and Belgium was scheduled to take place. The victims, Swedish nationals dressed in their home colors, were among the thousands of spectators heading to the Euro 2024 qualifier. Footage of the attack shows Lassoued, wearing a reflective vest and a white helmet, chasing down the victims and firing an automatic rifle at them. He then followed them into a building and continued shooting.
After the attack, Lassoued fled the scene on a scooter. However, he was apprehended by armed officers the following morning and was fatally shot.
Belgium's Interior Minister, Annelies Verlinden, described the incident as a "cowardly and heinous terrorist act." Eric Van Duyse, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, stated that Lassoued claimed to be inspired by the Islamic State and had specifically mentioned the victims' Swedish nationality.
In a video, Lassoued referred to himself as "Slayem Slouma" and stated that he aimed to avenge the killing of the 6-year-old Palestinian boy in Illinois. The video also showed Lassoued declaring that the Quran is a "red line" for which he is willing to sacrifice himself.
Belgium and Sweden have raised their terror alert levels in response to the attack. Security measures were implemented to protect other Swedish supporters in the soccer stadium, and the game was ultimately canceled.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed his condolences to the Swedish prime minister and emphasized the importance of a joint fight against terrorism. Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Tobias Billstrm expressed his devastation over the incident and extended his thoughts to the victims' families. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the government is working closely with relevant agencies and international partners to combat terrorism.
This attack follows recent acts of terrorism, including Hamas' attacks on Israel and the stabbing of a French teacher in Arras, France. Belgian authorities have previously experienced acts of terrorism, such as the suicide bombings at the Brussels Zaventem airport in 2016, which claimed the lives of 32 people and injured over 300.
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