A shooting broke out in the Belgian capital, Brussels, this Wednesday, December 6, 2023, in the evening. At least four people were injured, including one seriously, on Avenue de la Toison-d’Or, a major shopping avenue in downtown Brussels.
According to police spokesperson for the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles zone, Ilse Van de Keere, the perpetrator(s) of the shootings were on the run when the police intervened at the scene of the shooting.
The terrorist trail seems to have been ruled out
“We received a report of a shooting that occurred on avenue de la Toison-d’or around 7:30 p.m.,” indicates Ilse Van de Keere, who confirms that the vital prognosis of one of the victims is engaged.
The police specify that “At this stage there is no element that could suggest that this is a terrorist act.”
Information confirmed by the mayor of Ixelles, Christos Doulkeridis, quoted by the Belgian daily The evening. “We are no longer in a scenario of urban gangs”, he explains. The prosecution has not yet commented on the facts.
Significant deployment of police and ambulances
Still according to the newspaper Le Soir, the shooting broke out near an Apple Store and the entrance to the Galerie Toison d’Or, on the avenue of the same name, a shopping mall housing many major brands. The gallery was evacuated, according to Belgian media.
A security perimeter was set up, and traffic was partially cut off on the main avenue, adds Agence France Presse. Images from Belgian television showed a large deployment of police cars and ambulances on Wednesday evening.