Reinforced police presence in Brussels following armed attacks linked to drug trafficking
Belgian authorities are deploying 40 additional police officers in the capital following a series of attacks with automatic weapons. The interior minister declares "national emergency situation".
Brussels under pressure from armed violence: 40 additional police officers mobilised
Belgian authorities announced on Wednesday the strengthening of police forces in Brussels, after the country's capital was shaken by a series of armed attacks linked to drug trafficking, according to Google News RO — Crime (ro), which cites the AFP news agency.
The Belgian capital, which also hosts the main headquarters of the European Union, has registered an alarming escalation of armed violence in recent days. Several incidents have involved attackers who opened fire with automatic weapons, causing injuries and also targeting a police station.
Emergency measures following a meeting with local and national officials
Following an emergency meeting that brought together representatives at both local and national levels, authorities decided to deploy 40 additional police officers and relocate forces to the districts most affected by violence. Additionally, mobile surveillance cameras are to be installed to assist law enforcement in identifying those responsible for the attacks.
Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin sent a firm message on the X network: "We are in a situation of national emergency." Quintin emphasised that "the fight against organised crime must be an absolute priority for all services and for all levels of government."
Belgium, central hub of drug trafficking in Europe
Belgium is recognised as one of the main transit points for drug trafficking at European level. In recent years, armed violence has intensified between rival networks fighting for control of drug distribution markets, and Brussels has increasingly become the scene of violent confrontations between organised criminal groups.
The arrest of a man with a Kalashnikov in a bag this week in a Brussels railway station — reported separately by AFP — illustrates the scale of the phenomenon that Belgian authorities now face.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)