Brussels is grappling with widespread and increasing crime that shows little signs of abating. This weekend’s crimes yet again underscore the need for the government to urgently restore safety and reassure citizens amid the escalating violence.
On Friday, shots were fired at a group of people in the Schaerbeek district, fatally wounding a 25-year-old man. The suspects fled the scene, and authorities are currently looking for witnesses who may be able to provide information about the incident.
A few kilometers away, also on Friday evening, a police check almost ended in tragedy. Two patrol officers narrowly avoided being run over by a speeding car that deliberately drove toward them while they were conducting a vehicle inspection. They managed to jump out of the way at the last moment, but the car crashed into their police vehicle, severely damaging it. The driver—a 36-year-old man under the influence of alcohol—was arrested at the scene.
An explosion occurred in Antwerp early Saturday morning. Authorities believe the attack may be drug-related but say all possible motives are still being investigated. The Belgian city has become one of Europe’s largest drug-import hubs. Drug gangs often consist of young people with migrant backgrounds who struggle to find work in the traditional labor market.
The drug trade is partly responsible for the sharp deterioration in public safety in the capital and the recent wave of armed attacks. The situation has become so dangerous nationwide that the Minister of the Interior has announced an increase in police presence across Belgium and the installation of around €20 million worth of surveillance cameras in major cities. By the end of the year, soldiers will be deployed on the streets of Brussels to deter criminals.
