Two overnight shootings in Sint-Niklaas and Brussels have left four people in a critical condition and sparked police investigations, as authorities examine possible links to organized crime.
Shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Friday, police responded to reports of gunfire near Grote Heimelinckstraat and Entrepotstraat, close to the Sint-Niklaas freight station. Emergency services arrived at the scene and found four individuals in critical condition. All were transported to hospital for treatment.
Six suspects have since been arrested. The area was sealed off on Friday morning while forensic experts carried out an investigation. The case is now being handled by the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office.
Although a motive has not yet been confirmed, authorities are investigating a possible connection to organized crime. “All lines of inquiry remain open,” said a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, which is not providing further details at this stage. Sint-Niklaas mayor Lieven Dehandschutter (N-VA), who is currently on vacation, has been briefed on the incident and referred all questions to the prosecutor’s office.
In a separate overnight shooting in the Brussels district of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, a 27-year-old man was injured. He was discovered on Industriekaai and taken to hospital; his injuries are not life-threatening.
Laura Demullier, spokesperson for the Brussels public prosecutor’s office, confirmed that a forensic pathologist, a ballistics expert, and the Federal Judicial Police were dispatched to the scene. No suspects have been identified so far, and the investigation is ongoing.
