One person has died after having been shot in the Brussels municipality of Sint-Gillis. The incident that happened at around 6am on Wednesday was the third shooting in the area in just a few days. On Tuesday a shooting took place at the same location on the Jacques Franckplein.
The Mayor of Sint-Gillis Jean Spinette (Francophone socialist, photo below) told VRT News that “Yesterday’s shooting was about intimidation, today’s more resembles an execution. The Federal Judicial Police are at the scene and are investigating the incident”.
Dealers feel untouchable
On Tuesday a military grade firearm was fired into the air. No one was injured by the bullets, but during their escape the perpetrators ran over a woman and collided with several vehicles.
Mr Spinette told VRT News that "The dealers appear to feel that they are untouchable. After yesterday’s incident they returned to the park almost straight away and started dealing again. I asked the police to act, and they detained someone yesterday evening. However, the dealers returned again afterwards. Once again, I call for this problem to be addressed seriously across the board by the police and the judicial authorities”.
The incidents indicate that drug dealers are staging a battle for control of the Jacques Franckplein. Mr Spinette told VRT News that the dealers that are present on there are not just local dealers but are also part of an international networks.
But why were two shootings in two days able to take place at the same location. "There was a police presence all night, but they have to keep watch over 87 places at once. They can’t be everywhere”.
The third incident in less than a week
Wednesday morning’s fatal shooting is the third shooting in the area in less than a week. In addition to the two shootings on the Jacques Franckplein in Sint-Gillis, two people were serious injured a few hundred metres away when they were shot on the Lacaillestraat in the Marollen area of the City of Brussels on Sunday. Witnesses to boht Sunday's and Tuesday’s shootings report seeing three masked men. No suspects have yet been detained.