Tunisian Who Took Lives of Two Swedes Had Asylum Rejection and Illegal Residence in Belgium

Police incident do not cross sign. (Pixabay Photo)

On Monday evening in Brussels, the Belgian police fatally shot an individual who had taken the lives of two Swedish nationals. A vigilant witness alerted law enforcement to the suspect’s presence in a café close to his residence in Schaerbeek, a northern district of Brussels. The witness reported that the individual was carrying both a military-grade weapon and a bag containing clothes.

The man, a 45-year-old identified as Abdesalem in Belgian media is believed to be of Tunisian origin and was residing in Belgium without legal status, having had his asylum application rejected in 2020.

A third Swedish citizen sustained severe injuries in the assault, which transpired just 5 kilometers (approximately 3 miles) from the stadium where Belgium was engaging Sweden in a crucial match to secure a spot in the Euro 2024 football tournament.

Subsequently, the stadium was evacuated, and fans were instructed to depart immediately, as reported by the NCCN.

The assailant, who claimed the lives of two Swedish football enthusiasts in Brussels before being neutralized by law enforcement, had been residing in Belgium unlawfully and had received an expulsion order from the country three years prior.

The motive behind the attack on Monday night, is still under investigation. Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, expressed the belief that all indications point towards a deliberate act of terror targeting Sweden and its citizens.