Belgian authorities are actively searching for armed suspects after a shooting incident was reported outside Clémenceau metro station in central Brussels early on Wednesday.
CCTV footage aired by local media shows at least two men, dressed in balaclavas and carrying weapons, standing at the entrance of the metro station.
The shooting occurred around 06:15 local time (05:15 GMT), with video footage capturing an exchange of gunfire.
Spokesperson for Brussels police, Sarah Frederickx, indicated that the suspects may have fled into the metro tunnels following the incident. She also confirmed that, fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“We are searching for a small group of people, probably two or three individuals,” said Frederickx. “They may still be armed, and we do not want to take any risks.”
Reports from BruxellesToday suggested that the suspects were seen carrying weapons resembling Kalashnikov rifles.
The BBC verified videos circulating on social media that show two men wielding what appeared to be rifles while shooting, though it remains unclear who their target was.
In response to the shooting, several metro stations, including Clémenceau and nearby Brussels-Midi, were temporarily closed, causing disruptions during the morning rush hour.
Service has since resumed, and lines are gradually returning to normal. A command post was established at the Anderlecht town hall to oversee the ongoing search.
No arrests have been made, and authorities have stated that they do not currently suspect a “terrorist” motive behind the shooting.
Belgium’s interior minister, Bernard Quintin, joined police and Anderlecht’s mayor on Wednesday morning.
“We are following the situation closely,” he wrote on X.
While the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, Belgian media speculate that it could be linked to drug trafficking, with the Brussels-Midi area known for its history of violence and criminal activity.
Tram services, which were also affected, have now resumed, including those between Lemonnier and Berkendael and between Port d’Anderlecht and Gare du Midi.
The incident, which occurred during the busy morning commute, left many local residents shaken.
One witness described hearing five or six gunshots, while another expressed fear, saying, “I went outside and wondered what is happening. Is this war? We have to send our children to school, we take the metro. We are scared, yes.”
