Belgian Authorities Pursue Suspects After Morning Shooting Near Metro Station

In Brussels, police are on the lookout for potential shooters following a metro station incident early Wednesday. CCTV footage reveals masked gunmen firing weapons, prompting authorities to temporarily close metro services and heightening public concern about safety in the area.

Belgian police are searching for gunmen after a shooting incident outside a metro station in the heart of Brussels early Wednesday. CCTV footage aired by local outlets shows at least two armed men donning balaclavas at Clémenceau station’s entrance. The event unfolded around 06:15 local time (05:15 GMT), with video evidence capturing a violent exchange.

Sarah Frederickx, a spokesperson for Brussels police, indicated that the suspects may have escaped into the metro tunnel system. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the shooting incident.

Authorities are pursuing "a small group of individuals, likely two to three suspects," with Frederickx stating that these individuals could still be armed, hence the police’s cautious approach. According to reports, the suspects appeared to carry weapons resembling Kalashnikov rifles. The situation escalated media attention after footage circulated on social platforms, depicting armed individuals but failing to clarify their target.

In response to the threat, several metro stations, including Clémenceau and Brussels-Midi – a key Eurostar terminal – were shut down for hours. These stations have since resumed normal operations, although service disruptions affected thousands of daily commuters during peak morning hours.

A command post has been established at the town hall in Anderlecht to coordinate ongoing investigations. No arrests have been made, and as it stands, the prosecutor's office does not suspect any "terrorist" motives tied to the attack. Furthermore, Belgium's interior minister, Bernard Quintin, was seen collaborating with police and local officials, assuring that they are monitoring the situation closely while positioning the incident as possibly intertwined with drug trafficking activities.

The area around Brussels-Midi is notorious for crime-related issues, and recent reports hint at a potential connection to broader violent crime syndicates. One local resident recounted hearing several gunshots, voicing her fears for her child's safety and expressing distress over the shotgun exchange, particularly in a bustling community setting. If you were in the vicinity at the time, authorities encourage you to share your experiences to aid their investigation.