Police patrol exterior the King Baudouin Stadium, after a match between Belgium and Sweden was suspended, after a taking pictures within the heart of Brussels, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023.

Sylvain Plazy/AP

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Sylvain Plazy/AP

Police patrol exterior the King Baudouin Stadium, after a match between Belgium and Sweden was suspended, after a taking pictures within the heart of Brussels, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023.

Sylvain Plazy/AP

BRUSSELS — Belgian police early Tuesday hunted for a gunman with suspected terrorist motives who killed two Swedes with gorgeous viciousness earlier than disappearing into the night time. He created such concern that authorities shut down a Belgium-Sweden soccer match and held 35,000 followers inside for a number of hours as a precaution.

Eric Van Duyse, spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s workplace, stated the investigation was centering on “a possible terrorist motivation for the shooting” after “a claim of responsibility was posted on social media.”

“This person claims to be inspired by Islamic State,” Van Duyse stated. “The Swedish nationality of the victims was put forward as the probable motive.” Sweden raised its terror alert to the second-highest degree in August after a sequence of public Quran-burnings by an Iraqi refugee residing in Sweden resulted in threats from Islamic militant teams.

“At this time, no element indicates a possible link with the Israeli-Palestinian situation,” Van Duyse stated, providing scant aid on a continent the place many countries have elevated their vigilance for concern of assaults linked to the Israel-Hamas battle.

In Belgium, the anti-terror heart stated the phobia alert within the capital was raised to its prime score of 4, which means a “threat is extremely serious.” It beforehand stood at 2, which suggests the risk was common. The alert degree or the remainder of the nation was raised to 2.

“I have just offered my sincere condolences to @SwedishPM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels,” Prime Minister Alexander De Croo De Croo stated. He added on X, previously generally known as Twitter, “As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”

As for the soccer match, Van Duyse stated, “security measures were urgently taken to protect the Swedish supporters” on the sport within the nationwide stadium not removed from the schooting.

Over two hours after the sport was suspended, a message flashed on the massive stadium display screen saying, “Fans, you can leave the stadium calmy.” Stand after stand emptied onto the streets full of police because the manhunt continued.

“Frustrated, confused, scared. I think everyone was quite scared,” stated Caroline Lochs, a fan from Antwerp.

Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden stated, “A horrible shooting in Brussels, and the perpetrator is actively being tracked down.”

Media experiences aired novice movies exhibiting a person arriving on a scooter in an orange fluorescent huge, dropping the car and instantly taking out a big weapon and opening hearth on passersby. Apart from the 2 Swedes who had been killed, an area taxi driver was harm however his life was not at risk.

The attacker then picked up his scooter and sped off into the gathering darkness.

The taking pictures got here at a time of elevated vigilance linked to the Israel-Hamas battle that has heightened pressure in a number of European nations.

Even although solely two individuals died within the assault, in comparison with dozens and dozens in a number of European nations little greater than a half decade in the past, the return of a way of dread was speedy.

“Horrified on the indiscriminate killing within the coronary heart of #Brussels tonight,” stated European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. “Terror and extremism cannot infiltrate in our societies. People must feel safe. Hate will not win.”