Sheer Rising Tensions: Drug Gangs Turn Brussels Pizzeria into Crime Scene

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:48:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A night of gunfire at a Brussels pizzeria highlights the surge in drug‑related shootings and the urgent police response.

In late August, a shootout at Salvatore’s pizzeria in Brussels’ St Gilles left the open‑air dining terrace scarred by bullet impacts. Over 100 shootings occurred in Brussels in 2025, with 65 this year, and the incident marks the third in the area in just three days. Locals such as Salvatore and elderly neighbour Murielle describe the violence as a threat to their community. Police chief Jurgen de Landsheer stresses the need for prevention, while authorities have deployed 40 additional officers.

Sheer Rising Tensions: Drug Gangs Turn Brussels Pizzeria into Crime Scene

On a Thursday night, gunfire shattered the tranquil ambience of Salvatore’s pizzeria on a square in St Gilles, Brussels. The terrace, which had been filled with clients and children, became a crime scene as bullets racked the walls and the floor.

Salvatore, the owner, described the terror: “We dropped to the floor. I had clients eating on the terrace with children. Look, we can see the bullet impacts everywhere.” He added, “Are we in an American gangster movie? This needs to stop.”

Over 100 shootings were recorded in Brussels in 2025, with more than 65 incidents so far this year. The St Gilles neighbourhood has seen its third shooting in three days, signalling a spike in drug‑related violence.

Murielle, a 70‑year‑old resident with her dog Chéva, recalls a previous day when a suspected drug dealer was shot in the leg. “We can still see the trace of the pool of blood,” she says, hoping for peace to return to her street. She notes that former drug dealers were once polite, but the current violence has changed that reality.

Police chief Jurgen de Landsheer highlights the scale of the problem: “Drug dealing is happening in plain sight here. A successful drug‑dealing point can earn up to €50,000 per day.” He says Brussels now mirrors the violence seen in Marseille, though the city is not yet at that level. The police superintendent has warned that the biggest danger to the community is stray bullets, especially as young people are implicated.

In response to the spike, Belgium’s interior minister announced additional police deployment, with 40 officers assigned to the struggling area. “There is no magic solution. We need prevention over repression,” de Landsheer urges, calling for societal efforts to give young people a future and reduce crime.

Residents in St Gilles fear for their safety and the value of their homes. Salvatore says, “Nobody sleeps here at the moment. People talk about moving out.” Meanwhile, Murielle remains determined to stay: “We will not be intimidated. We'll carry on living and we’ll keep protecting our lovely neighbourhood.”