Man Wounded in Sint-Gillis Shooting Likely Linked to Drug Milieu
A man was wounded in a shooting in Sint-Gillis, Brussels, on Saturday evening, in an incident authorities believe is likely linked to the drug milieu. The victim is not in life-threatening danger, according to Sint-Gillis Mayor Jean Spinette (PS), who visited the scene personally.
The shooting occurred at the intersection of Gustave Defnetstraat and Vorstse Steenweg, near the Théodore Verhaegenstraat — an area known locally as the ‘Place des Deux Bancs’ (Two Benches Square). According to VRT NWS, the mayor said it was “probably a shooting between drug dealers.” An investigation is ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness told BRUZZ that he was calmly drinking something on a terrace when shots were suddenly fired. The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, described a loud bang and a muzzle flash from the barrel of the weapon. The victim was sitting at a concrete table on the square and fell to the ground from the impact.
Around 23:00 local time, a security perimeter was established and police remained on scene. The area around the square is known as a place where drugs are traded, including cannabis and highly profitable cocaine. Drug trade and associated nuisance have been repeatedly denounced by residents and the mayor.
A Night of Violence Across Brussels
The shooting occurred on the same night as an attack on a police station in Anderlecht’s Demosthenesstraat with a Kalashnikov-type weapon, and two car fires in Sint-Gillis (Vlasfabriekstraat and Zuidlaan).
The police station attack involved at least 12 bullet impacts on the building’s facade. Two suspects fled on an electric scooter. Police Zone South Chief Jurgen De Landsheer called the attack a “red line that has been crossed,” noting that “the police serve and protect the population, but are now themselves the target.” BRUZZ reported that the attack was possibly retaliation for ongoing police operations against drug trafficking.
Brussels Chief Prosecutor Julien Moinil condemned the attack, saying, “The fact that the state is made a target in the middle of the street speaks volumes about the intent of the perpetrators to destabilize the authorities, but they will certainly not succeed.”
Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR) called it “yet another wake-up call for Brussels,” vowing, “We will not allow organized crime to take over our city.” Political reactions also came from Anderlecht Mayor Fabrice Cumps and Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin.
Escalating Drug Violence in Sint-Gillis
The latest shooting is part of a broader pattern of escalating drug-related violence in Sint-Gillis and across Brussels. The area around the Bethlehemplein and the ‘Place des Deux Bancs’ has become a known drug-dealing hotspot, with dealers moving between locations under police pressure.
In April 2026, Sint-Gillis experienced a wave of explosions and shootings, including an explosion that destroyed the windows of a shisha bar and a secondary school. BRUZZ reported that police described an “escalating territorial struggle” between drug gangs, with Mayor Spinette noting a possible conflict between dealers from the Marollen in Brussels-City and those from Bethlehemplein.
“Often shots are fired first, but the next step to sow fear is the use of explosives,” Spinette said in April. A police spokesperson explained that “police interventions put pressure on criminal groups, which in turn causes tension and destabilization within those groups. Unfortunately, that struggle between criminals also plays out in residential areas.”
Residents have repeatedly called for action. A neighborhood committee has pleaded for social measures including a drug consumption room and housing for homeless people, arguing that the police approach merely shifts the problem. Mayor Spinette responded that a consumption room would cost about 4 million euros, which the municipality cannot afford.
Broader Context of Gun Violence
Brussels has seen persistent gun violence linked to the drug trade. According to Knack, Brussels Chief Prosecutor Julien Moinil reported 20 shooting incidents in July-August 2025 and 57 shootings over the whole year. The prosecutor’s office listed 20 specific shooting incidents between 5 July and 10 August 2025, including at least one fatal shooting at the Alphonse Lemmensplein in Anderlecht, a known drug violence hotspot.
What’s Next
As investigations continue into Saturday night’s shooting and the police station attack, authorities face mounting pressure to address the root causes of drug-related violence in Brussels. The recent spate of incidents — including two car fires on the same night — underscores the challenges facing local authorities in containing the violence.
Mayor Spinette has been vocal about the need for more resources, while the Brussels government has announced new measures including a drugs commissioner and increased investment in security. Whether these efforts will be enough to stem the tide of drug-related violence remains to be seen.