Police have shot and killed the man who gunned down two Swedish nationals in Brussels ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier in the Belgian capital.
The BBC are among those reporting that 45-year-old Abdesalem Lassoued was apprehended and shot by police forces at a cafe in the Schaerbeek neighbourhood.
Panicked fans were reportedly locked inside the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels until 4am following the shooting of two Swedish supporters on Monday evening.
The match taking place between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at half-time as those inside the venue were made aware of the unfortunate events that had taken place in Brussels city centre prior to the game getting underway.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has claimed that the victims of the attack were targeted due to their nationality.
He said: “The perpetrator targeted specifically Swedish supporters who were in Brussels to attend the match against Belgium.
“Two Swedish fans have passed away. A third person is recovering from severe injures.”
According to the Daily Mail, those in attendance at the King Baudouin Stadium were contained through to the early hours of Tuesday morning as investigations into exactly what went on and why were opened.
Reims manager Will Still – who was born in Belgium to English parents – was among those inside the ground when it was locked down.
He told BFMTV while being advised not to head back out onto the streets: “We are still locked in the stadium, with no exit allowed. It’s a bit of a blur for everyone.”
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
