Services on lines 2 and 6 of the Brussels metro have returned to normal after a large section of line had been closed for more than 7 hours to allow police to search the underground tunnels for two men had fire shots from a Kalashnikov near to a metro station in Anderlecht.
Metro services in Brussels return to normal after search for gunmen in tunnels draws a blank
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Services started to return to normal at around 2pm. Lines 2 and 6 had been suspended between West Station and Troon to allow for a search for two suspects that were believed to have run into the metro tunnel after a shooting near to the Clemenceau metro station, in the Kuregem area of Anderlecht.
The search of the tunnels that involved officers from the Local Police Service, the Federal Railways Police and the Federal Police Special Forces failed to find the suspects. In addition to metro services, tram services on lines 4, 10, 51 and 82 were suspended over part of their respective routes.
The shooting happened at around 6:15am on the Jorezstraat. CCTV images from the Brussels public transport company MIVB show two heavily armed individuals wearing hoodies walking around in the Clemenceau metro station.
They then walk outside and fire several shots with a kalasjnikov. The incident lasts just 20 seconds. The two then run back into the metro station. Who they are is not yet clear.
However, accord to VRT News’ sources they targeted a specific person, but missed. It is likely that the shooting was Meanwhile, a photograph of one of the suspects is doing the rounds on social media.
As yet no one detained
Shortly after noon the prosecutor’s office issued an update “No one has been apprehended yet. The investigation is still ongoing. There are currently no indications that the shooting had a terrorist motive”. Forensic experts went to the scene to look for clue. "The prosecutor’s office has appointed a ballistics expert and serval cartridge cases have been found”.
The new Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal) went to Anderlecht to attend a meeting with mayor Fabrice Cumps (Francophone socialist) and the police. Mr Quintin then went to the scene of the shooting. He told journalists that "I want to understand what is going on. The investigation is still very much ongoing and I will refrain from further comment”.