Anderlecht Shooting Leaves Victim in Critical Condition
A shooting incident in Anderlecht on Friday afternoon has left one person in danger of death, according to the Brussels-Midi police zone. The attack occurred around 5 PM on Rue des Fraises, when an individual riding a scooter opened fire on a person seated inside a car before fleeing the scene, as La Libre Belgique reported.
The Incident
The victim, transported to Hôpital Érasme in critical condition, was reportedly struck by at least four shots, one of which seriously wounded them in the leg, according to Brussels Today, citing Sudinfo. The suspect, who fled the scene on the scooter, remains at large.
The federal judicial police laboratory was dispatched to the scene to conduct forensic examination and gather evidence. As RTL Info noted, no information has yet been communicated about the circumstances or motive behind the shooting.
A Fire in the Same Neighborhood
Hours after the shooting, at approximately 5 AM on Saturday morning, a fire broke out on Rue Hoorickx, just one street away from the scene of the shooting. One person was transported to hospital after the blaze, which reportedly involved a firebomb thrown against the facade of a residential building, per Het Laatste Nieuws.
Commissioner Laurent Lacroix, spokesperson for the Brussels-South police zone, confirmed the investigation is currently oriented toward the hypothesis of deliberate arson. “A person was injured during the incident, but their life is not in danger,” Lacroix told Brussels Today. “We are currently awaiting the arrival of the prosecutor and experts. For the moment, the incident is recorded with us as a fire. We must await the conclusions of their investigation before we can communicate further details.”
Police have stated that no link has been established between the shooting and the fire, despite their proximity in the same Anderlecht neighborhood.
A Pattern of Violence in Anderlecht
The shooting on Rue des Fraises is the latest in a troubling series of gun-related incidents in Anderlecht, a municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region that has become a focal point of gun violence in recent years.
In March 2026, four shootings occurred in just three days in Anderlecht, leaving one victim in critical condition after being shot in the abdomen. Incidents were reported on Rue Eloy, Rue des Colombophiles, near Bizet metro station, and on Chaussée de Mons, as La Libre Belgique documented at the time.
The municipality includes the Cureghem neighborhood, centered around Clemenceau metro station, which has been identified as one of the most affected areas for shootings in the Belgian capital.
Broader Context: Gun Violence in Brussels
Statistics compiled by Belgian media paint a concerning picture of gun violence across Brussels. According to DH Net, 160 shootings have occurred in Brussels since 3 October 2024. In 2026, 63% of shootings took place outside the 18 designated “hotspots” — areas with high drug-dealing activity — compared to 46% in 2025.
The Clemenceau hotspot, the most affected area, concentrated 25% of shootings until the end of 2025, but this share dropped to 17% in 2026. Brussels has been ranked among the top 3 European cities for shootings, alongside Naples and Marseille.
The shootings in Brussels are largely linked to drug trafficking and territorial disputes between criminal gangs. The Brussels-Capital Region has implemented a “hotspot” strategy targeting 18 high-risk areas, where police presence and administrative sanctions have been reinforced. However, the statistics suggest that violence has been spreading beyond these designated zones, raising questions about the effectiveness of the approach.
What’s Next
As the investigation into Friday’s shooting continues, authorities face the challenge of addressing a persistent pattern of gun violence that extends beyond traditional hotspots. The victim’s condition remains critical, and the suspect is still at large. The police have not yet communicated a motive for the attack, and the connection, if any, between the shooting and the subsequent fire remains unclear.
Residents of Anderlecht, already accustomed to recurring incidents of violence in their neighborhood, will be watching closely as investigators work to bring those responsible to justice and as authorities grapple with the broader question of how to curb gun violence in the Belgian capital.