Brussels shooting updates — Belgian cops shoot ‘terror’ suspect dead in cafe after two Swedes gunned down in street
POLICE have shot a man on the run dead in Brussels after two Swedish football fans were killed in a suspected ISIS terrorist attack last night.
Gunman Abdesalem Lassoued - who opened fire on two Swedish nationals and wounded a third person in central Brussels on Monday night - was shot by cops in a cafe on Tuesday morning.
A spokesman for the prosecutor's office, Eric Van Duyse, said officers "opened fire" on Lassoued, 45, in the Schaerbeek neighborhood of the Belgian capital, before later confirming he was responsible for Monday's attack.
The Belgian federal prosecutor's office confirmed that the perpetrator had died of his injuries, according to the national crisis centre.
It comes after two men, both wearing Sweden football shirts, were shot and killed in the street at 7pm around three miles from King Baudouin Stadium, where a Euro 2024 qualifier match was being played.
Sweden and Belgium both agreed to discontinue the contest during halftime with the score at 1-1 as the assailant fled the scene and remained at large.
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‘ISIS gunman’ was in Belgium illegally
Abdesalem Lassoued, a suspected ISIS terrorist, illegally lived in Belgium and was allegedly known to police as a threat to the public and a notorious human trafficker.
The self-proclaimed extremist - who has since been shot by police - is being accused of killing two men in Brussels in a horror rampage last night using a motorcycle and an assault rifle.
Will more Euro 2024 qualifier games be suspended because of the Brussels terror attacks?
It is yet to be confirmed if anymore Euro 2024 qualifier games will be suspended – but security services and ministers have gathered at a Crisis Center, amid fears of a terror motive.
The threat level for the Brussels Capital Region has been raised to level 4 – with officials telling locals to “avoid unnecessary movements”.
Regions are placed under level four “when the threat is serious and very imminent”.
Why was the Belgium vs Sweden match abandoned?
The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned after two men, both wearing Sweden shirts, were gunned down in the street before the game in Brussels.
Sweden players decided during the break to not resume the game, with the score 1-1 at half-time.
This decision was agreed to by their Belgian counterparts.
Fans were kept inside the King Baudouin Stadium until security services confirmed it was safe to depart.
As an extra safety measure, footy supporters were allowed to enter the press room.
Witnesses speak out about the shooting
One witness told HBVL: “There was soon a crowd, including the police.
“I saw the victim less than five meters away from me. A man about 40 years old.
“And then a black Mercedes Vito with two or three bullet holes in it.
“Inside was the driver dead. The injured passenger, half his body filled with blood, but conscious.”
Swedish fans left in tears
Close to the scene of the shooting, the Belgium-Sweden football clash was halted at halftime and 35,000 fans were barricaded in the stadium as the attacker was at large.
By 11pm the evacuation began with Belgium fans leaving first before 700 Swedes in attendance were escorted away by the police.
Pictures show tearful Swedish fans phoning relatives and removing their jerseys.
A second video shared online shows the alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket arriving on a moped just three miles from the Heizel stadium.
Belgium has suffered multiple terror attacks
Belgium has suffered a series of terrorist attacks in recent years – all of them related to Islamist extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
Eight men have just been tried for their connections to the 2016 suicide bombings that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds at Brussels airport and a subway station.
In September, a Brussels court handed out sentences ranging up to life in prison to eight men for the bombings.
French citizen Salah Abdeslam and Belgian-Moroccan Mohamed Abrini – already sentenced to life in jail by France for the November 2015 massacre in Paris – were the highest-profile of six defendants found guilty of murder in July.
Abrini, who was one of the intended bombers but decided not to blow himself up at the last moment, was given a 30-year jail term.
UEFA statement
A UEFA statement on the incident, said: "Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.
"Further communication will be made in due course."
Gun left at the scene
Photos show a smaller gun left behind at the scene following the shooting.
One witness told HBVL: "There was soon a crowd, including the police.
"I saw the victim less than five meters away from me. A man about 40 years old.
"And then a black Mercedes Vito with two or three bullet holes in it.
"Inside was the driver dead. The injured passenger, half his body filled with blood, but conscious."
Terror probe launched
The alleged shooter - who is believed to be linked to ISIS - went on the run hours after the horror unfolded at 7pm around three miles from Brussels' King Baudouin Stadium.
Local media has named the suspect as Abdesalem L, 45, of Tunisian descent.
Cops in Belgium have now launched a terror probe following the shooting at Boulevard d'Ypres and the city has raised its terror alert to the highest level.
Belgian authorities confirm suspect was shot by police
Belgian authorities have confirmed that the suspect from last night's shooting has been shot by counter terror police.
Interior Minister Annelis Verlindensaid told broadcaster VRT an automatic rifle found by the suspect was the same weapon used in Monday's horror attack.
The mayor of Brussels Phillippe Close told BFMTV said the condition of the suspect was "unclear" as cops "used force" to arrest him.
Sweden's captain comments on the situation
Sweden captain Victor Lindelof told the press conference that the players never felt in any danger.
He said: "Our security team handled it well and put us at ease. They explained that this is the safest place to be in Brussels."
Fans were kept inside the King Baudouin Stadium until security services confirmed it was safe to depart, with the gunman at still at large.
As an extra safety measure, fans were allowed to enter the press room.
Belgium's PM sends condolences
Cops are now urgently hunting the gunman - and Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has asked residents to be "vigilant".
He said: "My deepest condolences to the relatives of the cowardly assassination attempt in Brussels
"I monitor developments together with the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs from the national crisis center
"We are monitoring the situation and would like to ask the residents of Brussels to be vigilant."
Police shoot man in hunt for ‘ISIS’ gunman
Terror police have shot a man in a cafe amid the mass manhunt for a suspected ISIS terrorist following last night's shooting.
Cops in Belgium have now launched a terror probe following the shooting at Boulevard d'Ypres and the city has raised its terror alert to the highest level.
Belgium's federal prosecution office said they were confirming if the person shot was the gunman.
Sweden boss speaks out
Sweden boss Janne Andersson told a press conference that shocked players decided not to carry on out of respect to the victims and their families.
"When I came down for the break, I got this information. Immediately, I felt that it was completely unreal. What kind of world do we live in today?" he told reporters.
"I came into the locker room and when the team started talking we agreed 100 percent that we didn't want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families."
Alleged attacker claims to be from ISIS
In a clip filmed moments before the horror, the alleged attacker says he's part of terrorist group the Islamic State.
Speaking in Arabic, he claims responsibility for the shooting and outlines what appears to be a terrorist manifesto.
Belgium’s recent terrorist attacks, continued
Abrini, who was one of the intended bombers but decided not to blow himself up at the last moment, was given a 30-year jail term.
The court ruled not to give Abdeslam an additional term after he was sentenced in Belgium to 20 years in 2018 over a shootout.
The attacks – near the headquarters of both NATO and the EU – were part of a wave of attacks claimed by the Islamic State group in Europe.
A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said an investigation into Monday night's attack has been opened.
Brussels threat level raised
The threat level for the Brussels Capital Region has been raised to level 4 - with officials telling locals to "avoid unnecessary movements".
Regions are placed under level four "when the threat is serious and very imminent".
Belgium's recent terrorist attacks
Belgium has suffered a series of terrorist attacks in recent years – all of it related to Islamist extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
Eight men have just been tried for their connections to the 2016 suicide bombings that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds at Brussels airport and a subway station.
In September, a Brussels court handed out sentences ranging up to life in prison to eight men for the bombings.
French citizen Salah Abdeslam and Belgian-Moroccan Mohamed Abrini – already sentenced to life in jail by France for the November 2015 massacre in Paris – were the highest-profile of six defendants found guilty of murder in July.
Threat level raised significantly
In Belgium, originally the terror alert was listed at a 2 but changed to a top rating of 4 meaning “threat is extremely serious.”
A terror alert of 2 means the threat is average.
Officials are still investigating the crime and the manhunt continues for the suspect.
Eric Van Duyse, spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office, said the investigation was centering on “a possible terrorist motivation for the shooting” after “a claim of responsibility was posted on social media.”
More from Prime Minister Alexander De Croo
Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has continued to take to his X, formerly known as Twitter account to address residents.
Pictures from inside Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium, continued
Below are more pictures of fans standing with somber expressions as Sweden vs Belgium was abandoned at halftime.
Fans sit in the stands during the UEFA EURO 2024Credit: EPA 
Swedish fans after the European Championship qualifier was halted at halftimeCredit: Rex Pictures from inside Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium
Fans embraced one another and sat in shock as the Euro 2024 match was abandoned.
Fans of Sweden react at halftime as the UEFA EURO 2024 match is abandonedCredit: Getty 
Supporters wait to leave after the suspension of the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer matchCredit: AP Shock and horror on fans' faces
Swedish and Belgian fans were left shocked and in disbelief, after the Euro 2024 match was halted between their respective home teams.
More than 35,000 fans were told to stay in the stadium as the city was put on its highest terror alert.
Fans of Sweden react at halftime as the UEFA EURO 2024 match is abandonedCredit: Getty Alleged gunman pictured
A video shared online shows the alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket arriving on a moped just three miles from the Heizel stadium.
Brussels Terror Suspect Slayem Slouma live streamingCredit: https://twitter.com/aliifil1/status/1713991787910406547