• By Kamal Kumar
  • Tue, 17 Oct 2023 10:10 AM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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An unidentified assailant shot dead two Swedish football fans in Brussels on Monday in an alleged 'terrorist attack', says Belgium law enforcement.

Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo said the suspect was “a man of Tunisian origin” who “was staying illegally in our country,” adding that he was still absconding.

The attack came just before the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifier match between the host Belgium and Sweden, following which the match was cancelled.

"Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned," UEFA stated in a statement on its website.

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Belgium authorities raised the country's terror alert to 4, the highest level after a video surfaced on social media which reportedly showed a person claiming that he was the attacker and he was affiliated with ISIS. Reports also suggest that the attacker in his video said that 'he wanted to avenge Muslims' while confessing to the crime.

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According to Swedish journalists present at the match, they were informed about the incident right before the national anthems began. Sweden's team told UEFA their unwillingness to participate in the second half, a sentiment that was shared and accepted by the Belgian team, as reported by TV6, a Swedish broadcaster.

Police are on the streets to ensure safety, the city’s mayor Philippe Close posted on X.

“Following the shooting in Brussels, police services are mobilizing to guarantee safety in and around our capital, in collaboration with the Minister of the Interior,” Close said. “I am at the crisis centre… to ensure coordination.

The game was tied 1-1 when the announcement of the suspension was made, and Swedish spectators were instructed to stay inside the stadium.

"Arrangements to safely from the Belgium-Sweden match out of the stadium are being examined," Crisis Centre Belgium said in a post on social media platform X.

"Supporters will be given more information at the stadium. Please follow the instructions of the emergency services."

Swedish media indicated that the two individuals who were shot were reportedly wearing jerseys with the Sweden logo.

"I feel completely shocked," Sweden fan Pernilla Califf told the Aftonbladet newspaper. "We don't understand anything. Everyone is taking off their Swedish shirts and changing into neutral clothes. This is really unpleasant"