Brussels, 13 October, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A Brussels fatal shooting near the European Parliament has left one man dead and prompted a criminal investigation, raising concerns about public safety in the Belgian capital’s European Quarter.
The victim was shot on Monday, 12 October, inside a residential building on Rue Wiertz in Ixelles, immediately beside the European Parliament’s Sophie Scholl building.
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the killing, while local media reported that several suspects fled the scene. Authorities have not established a motive or announced evidence connecting the attack to European Union institutions.
Deadly Attack Near European Parliament in Ixelles
According to Belgian media, the shooting occurred shortly before 18:00 on Monday.
The victim was reportedly attacked in the entrance hall of an apartment building and suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate him, but he died from his injuries.
Witnesses reportedly saw three or four individuals fleeing after the shooting. Local newspaper La Capitale reported that investigators discovered at least seven spent bullet casings, while other accounts described bullet impacts inside the building.
Police secured the location and monitored access to the property’s underground parking area as investigators examined the scene.
Brussels Prosecutors Launch Investigation
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that judicial authorities attended the scene alongside an investigating judge.
Prosecutors subsequently indicated that the perpetrators had escaped and remained wanted.
The authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the attack was targeted or connected to organised criminal activity.
Although the shooting occurred close to a major European institution, no evidence has been announced suggesting that European Parliament members, employees or facilities were deliberately targeted.
The investigation remains focused on establishing the circumstances of the killing and identifying those responsible.
Separate Police Killing Deepens Brussels Security Concerns
The incident occurred on the same evening as another deadly shooting in Brussels.
In Jette, a 41-year-old police officer from the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone was killed while investigating a vehicle stolen during an armed carjacking.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil confirmed that the officer had been shot in the head.
Several individuals were detained in connection with that investigation.
The prosecutor also confirmed that firearms and drugs had been discovered during the investigation, although the significance of those findings remained under examination.
Authorities have not established a connection between the Jette killing and the shooting in Ixelles.
European Quarter Security Under Scrutiny
The Brussels fatal shooting has brought renewed attention to security around the European Parliament, where residential buildings, businesses and European institutions operate within the same neighbourhood.
The Parliament maintains security procedures covering access control, surveillance and risk assessment at its premises.
However, the Rue Wiertz incident occurred in a residential property outside the institution’s buildings.
There has been no confirmed announcement of additional parliamentary security measures directly resulting from the shooting.
What Happens Next in the Brussels Shooting Investigation?
Belgian investigators are continuing efforts to identify the suspects and determine the motive behind the fatal attack.
Further developments will depend on forensic findings, witness evidence and subsequent decisions by judicial authorities.
The separate investigation into the killing of the police officer in Jette is also continuing.
For residents, businesses and people working around European institutions, the two deadly incidents have placed public safety firmly in focus.
The investigation into the Brussels fatal shooting remains ongoing, with prosecutors yet to announce arrests in the Rue Wiertz case.
