Brussels Crime Debate Intensifies After “Oil Slick” Remark and Fatal Shooting
The mayor of Halle (Brussels region) has sparked a heated debate in politics and on social media when she compared the Belgian capital to an “oil slick” and a “polluted lake.”
Investigators work behind a police fence where a man was killed overnight in a new shooting linked to drug trafficking in the municipality of Anderlecht, Brussels, on February 7, 2025.
NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
The mayor of Halle (Brussels region) has sparked a heated debate in politics and on social media when she compared the Belgian capital to an “oil slick” and a “polluted lake.”
Brussels continues to face a rise in violent crime, with 96 shootings reported last year, eight of them fatal. Residents are increasingly calling on authorities for stronger action against drug-related gangs, as new incidents, including a deadly shooting in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode on Thursday, highlight ongoing security concerns.
Halle mayor Eva Demesmaeker recently referred to Brussels’ problem areas as an “oil slick,” suggesting that crime and incidents are “spilling over” into surrounding communities. The mayor said that most local young people do not cause problems, but a small group places a disproportionate burden on the police and local communities.
Her comments quickly drew political criticism: Brussels leaders argued that the “oil slick” analogy reinforces negative stereotypes and stigmatises residents of the capital.
The seriousness of the situation was highlighted on Thursday evening when yet another shooting occurred in the Saint-Josse-ten-Noode quarter, leaving the victim dead at the scene. Police are investigating the case, while local residents and city officials are calling for increased police presence and the installation of CCTV systems.
Most recently, residents of the Cureghem district sent an open letter to the police, calling for stronger action against drug trafficking and gang-related violence.
Most of these cases are linked to drug-related crime, which often involves young people from migrant backgrounds with low levels of education, many of whom struggle to find work.
