Schaerbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Public prosecutors believe the Monday evening shooting in Schaerbeek was probably connected to drug-related activities. The person injured during the event survives without risk to their life.
A shooting hit Schaerbeek on Monday evening, and police assume it stemmed from the drug trade. A man sustained an injury in the shooting, according to the Brussels public prosecutor, while receiving treatment in the hospital. Multiple witnesses in Allardstraat observed armed people during the incident, which occurred close to 5 p.m.
“We can confirm that the victim’s life is no longer in danger,” said the public prosecutor’s office spokesman, Martin François. “According to the first elements of the investigation, the facts appear to be drug-related. The investigation is ongoing and the public prosecutor’s office will not comment further.”
What is the crime and drug-related incident trend in Schaerbeek?
Violent crime statistics in the Schaerbeek, Brussels‘ municipality have increased during recent years, with drug offences causing the most significant concern. The Belgian Federal Police tracked 1,207 violent crimes in Brussels-North during 2022, which is a 15% increase from the 2020 figures. Weapons involved in violent crime included firearms in approximately 8% of cases, while knife attacks represented nearly 20% of reported incidents in these statistics.
Schaerbeek experienced 50 kg+ of narcotics seizures in 2023, according to statistics released by the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office. Drug-related shootings in the area have become more common after at least six reported incidents throughout the previous two years. Allardstraat represents an area identified by police reports as a major location for illegal drugs.
Brussels-North station, which is situated near Schaerbeek, experienced a deadly shooting in April 2024, along with other violent episodes. The law enforcement agencies believe that the area’s drug trade conflicts between competing trafficking organisations fuel most of the violence in the region.
Current police efforts to increase patrols remain facing difficulties due to both drug gangs that easily move between locations and weak prosecution of small drug crimes that lead to escalating conflicts.
