In a new shooting this morning in the “Anderlecht“ district of Brussels, one person was slightly injured, local media reported. The incident is believed to be related to the distribution of drugs, quoted by BTA.
The police are still searching for the perpetrators of yesterday's shooting, in which there were no injuries, but “Kalashnikov“ assault rifles were used. It is not yet clear whether this case is related to another similar incident that occurred earlier this week in another district of the capital, not far from the city center.
According to the prosecutor's office, the shootings are the result of a struggle for control over certain urban areas between drug gangs. Professor of criminology at the University of Liege, Michael Dantin, commented that minors are increasingly being found among the perpetrators. This is due to the fact that they are subject to lighter sentences than adult criminals.
According to him, this trend poses a serious threat to society, since in such shootings the risk of accidental casualties is increasingly rarely taken into account. He warns that new criminal groups are likely to enter Brussels, fighting for influence in the city.
Statistics show that last year the number of shootings between criminal gangs in Brussels reached 89, which is an increase of 40%. As a result of these attacks, 10 people died and 48 were injured.
In recent months, Belgian media have regularly reported shootings and explosions of improvised explosive devices in Antwerp - the second largest city in Belgium, which is considered a major entry point for cocaine smuggling from South America to Europe.