In a startling turn of events, a soccer match between Belgium and Sweden was abruptly suspended at halftime due to a horrifying incident in Brussels.
A gunman had fatally shot two Swedes in the Belgian capital before the game even began, casting a pall over the European Championship qualifier. The shooting occurred just three miles (5 kilometers) from the King Baudouin Stadium, where the match was being played, drawing a crowd of over 35,000 fans.
In the wake of the shooting, Belgian authorities made the difficult decision to keep thousands of soccer fans inside the stadium for their safety. It wasn’t until midnight local time that an evacuation was initiated as the suspect remained at large, posing a threat to Swedish nationals.
Inside the stadium, fans united in chanting “All together, All together,” with both Belgian and Swedish supporters expressing solidarity with the victims by shouting “Sweden, Sweden!”
Belgium soccer union knew of killing 15 minutes before kick-off
Manu Leroy, CEO of the Belgian soccer union, revealed that he became aware of the gravity of the situation just 10 minutes before kick-off. The decision to proceed with the match was made with the safety of the fans in mind, deeming the stadium the most secure location at the time.
Eric Van Duyse, spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, divulged that the investigation was focused on a potential terrorist motive for the shooting. He noted a claim of responsibility posted on social media, attributed to someone claiming to be the assailant and allegedly inspired by Islamic State ideology. The Swedish nationality of the victims was cited as a likely motive, while there appeared to be no connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the night wore on, fans exhibited patience, chanting their support as midnight approached. Leroy emphasized that the Swedish fans would be the last to leave the stadium, under police escort, heading straight to the airport for their safe departure.
This situation, reminiscent of the 2015 attacks on the Stade de France in Paris during a match, highlighted the enduring threat of terrorism at major European sporting events.
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, ultimately confirmed the abandonment of the Belgium vs. Sweden match following the suspected terrorist attack.
Game tied 1-1 at halftime
Belgium had already secured qualification for the EURO 2024 championships in Germany. The game was tied 1-1 at halftime, with Romelu Lukaku equalizing Viktor Gyokeres’ opener.
According to Swedish media, some fans were allowed into the stadium’s media room, while Peter Lindqvist, a fan present at the scene, reported that they were encouraged to communicate in English and take taxis upon leaving the stadium.
Players and officials unanimously supported the decision to cancel the match, with Sweden’s coach, Janne Andersson, expressing deep sadness and disbelief at the tragic events. Belgian authorities escalated the threat level in Brussels to its highest, urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel.
Sweden had previously raised its terror alert level to the second-highest in August, following incidents involving Quran-burnings by an Iraqi refugee in Sweden that garnered threats from militant Islamic groups.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo linked the attack to terrorism, while Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden emphasized that the perpetrator was actively being pursued, leading to a heightened state of alert and government discussions at the National Crisis Center.
