Brussels reports over 65 shootings linked to drug crime this year

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Brussels experienced over 65 drug-related shootings so far this year, continuing a trend that saw more than 100 incidents in 2025. The violence, concentrated in areas like St Gilles, stems from competition between gangs over more than 200 drug-dealing points that generate up to €50,000 per day. Local police, including Brussels South Police Chief Jurgen de Landsheer, reported an escalation in tactics involving young recruits and heavy weaponry, such as the recent shooting attack on a police station by suspects on a scooter.

Consequences

The increased frequency of violent confrontations and the targeting of police infrastructure suggest a higher risk of collateral harm to the civilian population from stray bullets. Authorities are focused on preventing the city from reaching the levels of violence seen in other European cities like Marseille, though officials acknowledged that current strategies, including both prevention and repression, face challenges due to the involvement of individuals as young as 12.

Sources

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