Fears persist after deadly drug gang shooting spree in Brussels

As police continue a manhunt for suspects in four shootings that took place last week in the Belgian capital of Brussels, attention is once again being drawn to drug gang violence in one of the city's most affected neighbourhoods - Anderlecht.

The incidents, which left one person dead, have terrified some of the local residents, who have become all too familiar with the city's notorious rival drug gang violence.

Local media reported the suspects were carrying Kalashnikov weapons, as was seen in widely shared footage on social media where two masked men opened fire outside a metro station.

Officials say investigations were underway and were focusing on a wider drug gang feud. "These are probably reprisals, wars between mafias that are waging a war for territory," said Brussels mayor Philippe Close.

The aftermath of one of the shootings left visible traces of bullet holes in the walls of nearby houses in Anderlecht, while another bullet was reported to have been found in a child's bedroom.

"It's scary because, as an average mother, you obviously try to do first things first, to protect your children, to shelter your children. You try to do everything you can to ensure nothing happens to them. So really, really, it was shocking," one of the area's residents said.

"I'm not going to stick around, and I don't want to set this example for my daughter later on when she grows up," said another.

"But here I am; I have a project for a second child, and I'd really like to leave before it comes to fruition," said the resident.

Last week's shooting incidents, which spanned three days, did not only occur only in the Anderlecht municipality. One took place Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, on the opposite side of Brussels, leaving two people wounded.

With anxiety over the violence being felt across the Belgian capital, authorities have sai they plan to temporarily merge the six separate Brussels police zones to efficiently deploy officers between different districts.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, drug gang violence has increased significantly in Brussels, something Drug Commissioner Ine Van Wymersch blames on drug dealers switching up their main product lines.

Six shootings have been recorded since the start of the year, with the death of a man who has yet to be identified being the first of 2025.

According to police data, around 92 shooting incidents were reported in Brussels last year, killing nine people and injuring 48.