Brussels hit by four shootings in four days amid gang violence
11:52, 25/08/2026, TuesdayU: Update: 12:12, 25/08/2026, Tuesday
Yeni Şafak
Belgium.
Brussels has recorded four separate shootings within four days as violence allegedly linked to drug trafficking and criminal networks continues to raise security concerns in the Belgian capital. One person was injured in the latest incident in Saint-Gilles, while police detained two suspects as authorities investigate a series of attacks across the city.
Brussels has faced four separate shooting incidents in just four days, with one person wounded and two suspects detained as Belgian authorities investigate a string of attacks believed to be connected in part to drug trafficking and clashes between criminal groups.
Police station targeted with gunfire
The first incident occurred on Aug. 21 in the Anderlecht district, where gunmen opened fire on a police station with a long-barreled weapon. No injuries or deaths were reported, but Brussels South Police Zone said investigators found numerous bullet marks on the building’s exterior.
The following day, another shooting was reported in Saint-Gilles. Mayor Jean Spinette said a person was struck in the leg but was not considered to be in life-threatening condition. Spinette also raised the possibility that the incident was related to the illegal drug trade, while stressing that the investigation remained ongoing.
Saint-Gilles sees repeated gunfire
A further incident was reported in Saint-Gilles on Aug. 23, when gunshots were heard at around 7 a.m. One of the bullets struck the window of a residential property. Authorities reported no casualties in that incident.
The latest shooting, also in Saint-Gilles, occurred at about 2:40 a.m. and left another person injured. Police detained two suspects in connection with the attack. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the victim’s condition.
Drug trafficking fuels security concerns
The concentration of shootings has renewed debate over public security in Brussels, home to the main institutions of the European Union. Belgian authorities have repeatedly faced pressure over violence associated with drug trafficking and organized crime, particularly in districts affected by competing criminal networks.
Belgium’s fight against cocaine trafficking is closely tied to the country’s major port of Antwerp, a key entry point for cocaine shipments arriving from Latin America into Europe. Belgian officials have said that a significant share of drugs entering the country is subsequently moved through distribution networks operating in Brussels and surrounding areas.
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