One dead in new shooting incident in Anderlecht: "We must take new strict measures," says interior minister

One person died at the scene after shots were fired near the Clémenceau metro station in Anderlecht on Saturday evening, according to the Brussels public prosecutor’s office.

Federal police are carrying out an active investigation and the perpetrators of the shooting are actively being sought, it said.

A heavily armed person was filmed by surveillance cameras near the Clemenceau metro station, according to an image provided by Belga.

It is not yet known whether this latest incident was connected to recent shootings in the neighbourhood "linked to drug trafficking" that left at least one dead and three injured, said the public prosecutor's office.

But Anderlecht mayor Fabrice Cumps (PS) who attended the scene was in little doubt that the incidents were related. He said they occurred "despite the increased presence of our police forces 70 metres away”.

The mayor told Belga: “We must continue to occupy the area, but it is largely insufficient. We must intensify judicial investigations to dismantle the networks and those who pull the strings.”

Interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) also visited the scene of the shooting. "It is clear that we must take new strict measures," he said.

"This is totally unacceptable," insisted the minister, who plans to urgently bring stakeholders together on Monday to analyse the situation and discuss measures such as police reinforcements and intelligence. “But what is fundamental, in the action we must take, is that fear must change sides.”

According to public transport operator Stib, the incident did not occur on the platform of Clémenceau station. But metro, tram and bus services were interrupted in the area on Saturday evening due to the police operation. On Sunday morning, public transport was running normally.

Photo: ©Belga/HatimKaghat

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