The Brussels South Local Police Service says that it has taken measures to prevent further violence after messages were publish on social media threatening vengeance for the murder of a man that was shot dead in Anderlecht last week.
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Police aware of threats to avenge the killing of man shot dead in Andelecht last week
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The man was shot dead after four armed man surrounded the car that he was driving on the Wayezstraat on Wednesday night. The 31-year-old was shot repeatedly after which his assailants fled. The car they had been driving was found later burned out a couple of kilometres away in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek.
The police and the Judicial Authorities say that the killing was part of a feud between drug gangs. The fear is that the killing could be the start of an escalation in drugs violence.
Figures from the Federal Police Service show that so far this year there have been at least 9 deaths in Brussels that can be linked to drugs. Meanwhile, the number of non-fatal shootings and stabbings in the capital since the start of the year has been at least twice this.
Revenge threats
In recent days messages have been doing the rounds on social media threatening revenge for Wednesday night’s killing. At the weekend the daily ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ quoted messages such as “Don't worry, the brother that was shot will be avenged." "Stay away from Anderlecht tonight and tomorrow." “There will be revenge. We won't leave it at this. Tonight (Friday evening, ed.) the family is planning a major attack”.
The Brussels South Local Police Service says that it is aware of the threats. However, the service’s spokeswoman Sarah Frederickx says that it is not aware of any firms plans by the victim’s family and friends to avenge his killing. “The possibility of eventual revenge action is being taken into account and we have measures in place”. However, Ms Frederickx won’t give any details as to what measures have been taken.