Brussels Faces Surge in Drug-Related Shootings, Leaving One Dead and Several Injured

A series of violent incidents in Anderlecht and Saint-Josse highlight escalating gang rivalries over drug territories in the Belgian capital.

Four shootings have occurred in Brussels since Wednesday, with three concentrated in Anderlecht and one in Saint-Josse, areas known for drug trafficking hotspots.
The violence includes the use of assault rifles, such as Kalashnikovs, and has left one person dead and at least three others injured, including a passerby shot in the leg.
Authorities attribute the shootings to gang conflicts over control of drug-dealing territories, with some incidents appearing to be acts of reprisal.
A bullet impact was discovered in the wall of a child's bedroom near one of the shooting sites, underscoring the danger to residents in affected neighborhoods.
Local officials, including Anderlecht's mayor, have called for increased police presence and a national strategy to combat drug-related violence, as the new federal government pledges a 'zero tolerance' approach.