Over 36 hours after the deadly terrorist attack in Brussels in which two Swedes were killed, the threat level across the country is still at level 3. That means an act of terror is "possible or likely". The government believes revenge attacks are a clear possibility.
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Aftermath of Brussels shooting: “Better follow-up of failed asylum seekers needed”
Colin Clapson
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The suspected perpetrator of Monday’s attack, a 45-year-old Tunisian residing in the country illegally, was shot dead by police yesterday. Shortly after the attack, he posted on social media saying he acted in the name of the terror group Islamic State and IS has since claimed responsibility for the attack via social media channel Telegram.
At a news conference on Tuesday following a meeting of the national security council Belgian PM Alexander De Croo (Flemish liberal) announced the threat level in Brussels would return to level 3, down from level 4, and equal the level 3 threat level that currently applies across Belgium. Following the revelation the suspected killer was staying in Belgium illegally Mr De Croo stressed orders to quit the territory of Belgium should be enforced more readily.
Many questions remain about what happened, the perpetrator and his motives, as well as Belgium’s expulsion policy and the political responsibilities and consequences.
It has meanwhile emerged that the perpetrator was incarcerated in a Swedish prison for drug offences between 2012 and 2014
A spokesman for the Swedish migration authorities has stated that the suspected perpetrator of the Brussels attack, a 45-year-old Tunisian, stayed in Sweden between 2012 and 2014 without a legal residence permit. During that period, he was also said to have spent some time in a Swedish prison before being transferred to another EU country. The man was reportedly held for drugs offences.
Minister Dalle: 'Local follow-up of expelled failed asylum seekers must be more efficient'
"There is sadness and distress in Brussels," says Flemish minister for Brussels Benjamin Dalle (Christian democrat/CD&V). "The attacks of 22 March 2016 are not that far behind us and the scar is still visible, but this attack has added a new wound. That's very frustrating."
Brussels residents once again feel "it could happen to anyone" says Dalle and at home and abroad, in turn, there is the impression that Brussels is "a terrible city". That has to change, he says. Dalle notes it’s "quite a relief" that the suspected perpetrator has been "neutralised". "It is important that the problems are dealt with firmly and efficiently and that clearly happened yesterday."
The suspected perpetrator was a man staying illegally in Belgium after his asylum application was rejected. "A well-known problem, also in Brussels," Dalle says, referring, among other things, to the problems at Brussels' South Station. For the minister, it is clear: "Either you have legal residence in our country, or you do not belong here and then you have to return to your country of origin."
But he does not see a ready-made solution to that problem. He agrees with his party colleague, asylum and migration secretary Nicole de Moor, and puts the main responsibility on the countries that refuse to accept deported failed asylum seekers, although he also admits: "Efficient local follow-up of these people is also needed and there is still work to be done in Brussels on that front."