Belgium: Terror level lowered – terrorist militia IS claims responsibility for attack | EUROtoday

As of: 11:02 p.m | Reading time: 4 minutes

NAfter the attack on two Swedish soccer followers in Brussels, the level of terror within the Belgian capital has been lowered once more. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo introduced on Tuesday that it’s at present not assumed that there’s a community, however moderately a person perpetrator.

After the deadly pictures on Monday night, the very best terror level was declared for Brussels. Now solely the second highest level ought to apply to the capital – similar to the remainder of the nation. The suspected perpetrator was shot useless by police early Tuesday morning. The investigators had beforehand searched all night time for the 45-year-old rejected asylum seeker from Tunisia.

The motives for the crime aren’t but clear. According to investigators, doable elements embrace a radical Islamist background and the Swedish nationality of the victims. This yr, activists in Sweden and later additionally in Denmark burned copies of the Koran a number of instances, triggering offended reactions amongst Muslims. At least one of many victims is claimed to have been sporting a Swedish soccer jersey.

On Tuesday night, the so-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the crime. The jihadist militia unfold a corresponding message on Tuesday night by way of its mouthpiece “Amak”. An IS fighter carried out the attack close to a soccer match and killed two “Christians,” the assertion stated. The IS cited a name by the group to battle towards nationals of the US-led army coalition in Syria as the explanation for the act. Sweden had skilled Kurdish troops within the battle towards IS in Iraq.

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In the previous, the terrorist militia had managed giant areas in Syria and neighboring Iraq. Despite the army victory over IS declared in 2019, its cells proceed to be lively within the nation and perform assaults.

The police had already seen the suspect

The shooter is thought to the authorities: one can already say that it’s a 45-year-old Tunisian who utilized for asylum in Belgium in November 2019, Justice Minister Vincent van Quickenborne stated early on Tuesday morning. The police seen him in reference to human trafficking, unlawful residence and endangering state safety.

The Belgian newspapers “Het Laatste Nieuws” and “Le Soir” report that the person is claimed to return from the Schaarbeek district of Brussels. His identify is claimed to be Abdesalem L., however on social media he additionally makes use of the identify Slayem S. As the broadcaster RTBF reported, the person is claimed to have already stood trial in his dwelling nation for terrorist offenses. He was additionally seen by the Belgian police in reference to human trafficking, unlawful residence and endangering state safety.

In July 2016, unconfirmed data was transmitted by a international police company that the person had an Islamist profile and needed to go to a battle zone to wage jihad, van Quickenborne stated. In October 2020 he acquired a damaging resolution after which disappeared. He was formally faraway from the National Register in February 2021.

The crime through which two Swedes died came about shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday night close to Place Sainctelette. Belgian media circulated beginner movies exhibiting a person in an orange, fluorescent jacket driving a scooter to the aspect of the street close to a prepare station, stopping, instantly pulling out a big gun and opening hearth on passers-by. Two males aged round 60 and 70 died. A 3rd sufferer is now out of hazard.

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It goes on to say that the person revealed a video on social networks through which he declared his allegiance to IS and spoke of “killing infidels” and “avenging Muslims.”

European Championship qualifier Belgium – Sweden canceled

Five kilometers from the crime scene, the European Championship qualifier between Belgium and Sweden was performed on Monday night within the King Baudouin Stadium. The recreation was canceled after the primary half.

Sweden’s nationwide coach Janne Andersson advised reporters that the information of the attack appeared fully unreal to him. “What kind of world do we live in today?”

Prime Minister De Croo stated he had expressed his honest condolences to the Swedish prime minister: “As close partners, the fight against terrorism is a common fight.”

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a “cowardly attack” and expressed her condolences to the individuals of Sweden. Belgian EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on X: “The heart of Europe is being hit by violence. My condolences go out to the families of the victims of the deadly attack in the center of Brussels.”

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of an “Islamist terrorist attack” and stated Europe was “shocked”. “A few minutes ago, Brussels was hit again by an Islamist terrorist attack, which apparently (…) cost the lives of at least two other Europeans, two Swedes,” Macron stated on Monday throughout a state go to to Albania.

France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin introduced that he needed to tighten border controls with neighboring Belgium. On Friday, a French instructor was killed by a radicalized former scholar at a college in northern France.