Brussels' chief prosecutor calls for drugs gangs crackdown after spate of shootings

Brussels' chief prosecutor called for a tougher crackdown on drug trafficking gangs on Friday, after a spate of shootings that have rocked the Belgian capital.

The city, home to the headquarters of the European Union, has seen an eye-catching rash of gun violence in recent days.

Masked assailants have fired off automatic weapons in a string of incidents, leaving several people wounded and seeing a police station targeted.

"Anyone could get shot," prosecutor Julien Moinil told journalists.

Moinil said that there have been 69 shooting incidents in Brussels so far this year and 170 in total since the start of 2025.

Moinil said that most of the violence appeared to be linked to a turf war between two rival drug gangs.

"Clearly, they appear to be in conflict and so we are seeing a cycle of retaliation," he said.

The prosecutor said that gang leaders, many of whom are abroad, need to be arrested and the authorities should do more to stop those already in jail from directing more violence.

Moinil called for more resources for police investigation units in a bid to curb the gangs that have increasingly begun recruiting youths from France and undocumented migrants as foot soldiers.

Authorities in Brussels this week said they were deploying 40 more police officers and more mobile cameras after the recent shootings.

Belgium is one of the major gateways for drugs being smuggled into Europe, with the mammoth port of Antwerp serving as a key entry point for criminal gangs.

In recent years, there has been an increase in armed violence related to conflicts between gangs.

Belgian authorities have been active in trying to go after the revenues of the gangs.

Moinil said that some 350 bars and restaurants in Brussels had been closed over ties to the drug trade since 2025 and that 3,500 luxury vehicles had been seized.