The Flemish Peace Institute that commissioned the report highlights a “worrying change” in Belgian firearm incidents, noting the increasing frequency of shootings.
In Brussels, in 86% of the counted 71 cases the weapons involved were actually fired, leading to 13 deaths and 44 injuries. The increase in the number of the incidents in the Belgian capital and their death toll is alarming, with previously recorded firearm-related deaths ranging from 0 to 4 between 2017 and 2022.
In Antwerp province, gunshots were fired in a third of the 29 total cases. Similarly, Hainaut reported a high number of incidents at 26, with gunfire in 16 of them.
Six out of ten incidents, where the context is known, are linked to criminal circles. Data suggests nearly all acts of criminal gun violence are perpetrated by men, though women are victims in 16% of the incidents.
