A tense situation unfolded at Belgium’s national stadium on Monday, where thousands of soccer fans were confined for approximately 2.5 hours following a shocking incident.
The disruption occurred during a game between Belgium and Sweden when a gunman fatally shot two Swedish individuals in Brussels just before the match began.
The European Championship qualifier was taking place about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the shooting in the heart of the Belgian capital, with over 35,000 fans in attendance. Belgian authorities made the decision to keep fans inside the stadium for security reasons while they initiated evacuation procedures around midnight local time.
Inside the King Baudouin Stadium, fans from both sides joined in chants of “All together, All together,” with many also shouting “Sweden, Sweden!” after the match was halted. Manu Leroy, CEO of the Belgian soccer union, revealed that he became aware of the situation merely 10 minutes before the game’s kickoff.
The decision to proceed with the match was initially made because the stadium was deemed the safest place for fans, ensuring their safety during the unfolding situation.
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Eric Van Duyse, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office, announced that the investigation was focusing on the possibility of a terrorist motive for the shooting.
He revealed that a claim of responsibility for the attack was posted on social media by an individual purporting to be the assailant, who cited inspiration from the Islamic State. The probable motive for the act was the Swedish nationality of the victims, and at that time, no evidence pointed to a link with the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Security measures were implemented urgently to safeguard Swedish supporters.
Fans remained patient, continuing their chants late into the night. Leroy stated that the Swedish fans were the last to leave the stadium because the police would escort them and the Swedish players directly to the airport for their departure. The police aimed to create a secure corridor for the Swedish fans’ safe return.
This incident, which involved fans being held inside a major European stadium, brought back memories of the Stade de France attack outside Paris when the stadium faced an assault by Islamic State extremists during a match between France and Germany on November 13, 2015.
UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, confirmed the abandonment of the Belgium vs. Sweden match in light of the suspected terrorist attack in Brussels. Belgium had already secured qualification for the 2024 European Championships in Germany, and the teams were tied 1-1 at halftime.
Amid the unfolding situation, some Sweden fans left the stands and were allowed into the stadium’s media room. One fan, Peter Lindqvist, shared that fans were instructed to speak English and use taxis once allowed to exit the stadium.
Players and officials unanimously supported the decision to call off the match. Sweden coach Janne Andersson expressed his sadness and bewilderment at the situation, pondering the state of the world we live in.
Belgium’s crisis center elevated the threat level in Brussels to the highest possible and advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel. Swedish authorities had previously raised their terror alert to the second-highest level in response to threats from Islamic militant groups following a series of public Quran-burnings by an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo suggested that the attack, which occurred over an hour before the match, might be linked to terrorism. Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden informed that the authorities were actively pursuing the perpetrator, and discussions were underway at the National Crisis Center.