BRUSSELS, February 7, 2025 – Late Thursday night, a man was shot and killed in a drug-related incident in the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht, as confirmed by the local mayor during an interview with public radio station RTBF.
The Brussels prosecutor’s office has verified the fatality when contacted by media outlets. This incident marks the third shooting in the area since Wednesday morning, which is known for its numerous drug-selling points identified as “hotspots” by authorities.
The deadly shooting occurred in the Peterbos neighborhood of Anderlecht. In his remarks to RTBF, Mayor Fabrice Cumps stated that there is “a gang war for territorial control” over drug trafficking in the municipality and reiterated calls for increased police presence.
According to initial reports from local media, the gunfire in Peterbos may be part of a settling of scores following shootings that occurred over the past two days near the Clemenceau metro station in the same vicinity. In one of those incidents, an individual sustained a gunshot wound to the leg early Thursday around 3:30 AM, according to the prosecutor’s office.
No arrests have been made at this time.
In recent years, Belgium’s capital has encountered issues similar to those faced by Antwerp, the major northern port city and primary entry point for cocaine into Europe.
