In brief
The incident has led to the temporary closure of two metro stations in southwestern Brussels as investigations unfold.
In an alarming early morning incident on Wednesday, gunfire erupted outside the Clemenceau metro station in the Anderlecht district of Brussels, sparking a manhunt for the assailants. According to the public prosecutor's office, two masked individuals armed with rifles were seen indiscriminately firing shots near the bustling metro area. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported following the shooting.Witnesses and relevant security footage revealed chaos ensued as the gunmen brazenly walked along the sidewalk, brandishing what appeared to be Kalashnikov rifles while ignoring the numerous pedestrians around them. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the duo later fled the scene towards the metro station. Willemien Baert, the spokesperson for the public prosecutor’s office, stated that initial investigations indicate the gunfire did not have a terrorist motive.In response to the incident, local authorities acted swiftly to close the Clemenceau and Gare du Midi metro stations for approximately four hours, allowing law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation of the area. Bullet casings were collected as evidence, underlining the seriousness of the situation. As the manhunt continues, the Brussels police are working diligently to locate the suspects and ensure public safety in the wake of this frightening escalation of violence.
