Saint-Gilles Shooting: One Injured, Two Suspects Arrested
A shooting in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles in the early hours of Monday left one person injured and led to the arrest of two suspects, according to RTBF. Police were called around 2:40 AM to Chaussée de Forest, where they found an injured person and provided first aid before transporting the victim to hospital.
Escalating Violence in Brussels-Midi Zone
The incident marks the latest in a troubling series of shootings across the Brussels-Midi police zone, which covers Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles, and Forest. During initial searches in the neighborhood, two suspects were arrested near the scene, RTL Info reported. The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released further details.
This shooting follows three previous gunfire incidents in the Brussels-Midi zone between Friday evening and Sunday morning. On Friday night, shots were fired at a police station on rue Démosthène in Anderlecht, with bullet impacts visible on the building. Two suspects fled on a scooter, and no one was injured. RTBF reported that King’s Prosecutor Julien Moinil described the attack as “inadmissible,” adding that “a clear desire to destabilize authority” was evident from the target chosen.
On Saturday evening, a man was shot in the leg at the intersection of rues Gustave Defnet and Monténégro, Place des Deux Bancs, in Saint-Gilles — an area known as a drug dealing point. RTBF noted that residents had previously shared videos on social media showing drug sales under their windows, denouncing a “drive-in” system.
Sunday morning brought another shooting on Chaussée de Forest at Porte de Hal, where a bullet ended up in the window of a home on rue Fontainas. The occupant, who was in bed at the time, was not injured but was reportedly very frightened.
Mayor Demands More Police Resources
Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette (PS) has been vocal in his criticism of what he sees as insufficient police resources. After the weekend’s incidents, he demanded 80 additional police officers for the judicial police, similar to resources given to Antwerp. “Bruxelles doit être respectée” (“Brussels must be respected”), Spinette insisted, according to RTL Info.
The mayor also called for more resources for the prosecutor’s office, additional youth detention places, and greater capacity to remove undocumented individuals involved in crime. He argued that the fusion of police zones alone would not solve the problem.
A Record Year for Shootings?
Brussels is on track to potentially break its record for shootings. In 2025, 101 shootings occurred in the capital, resulting in 8 deaths and 43 injuries. By July 31, 2026, 57 shootings had already been recorded — compared to mid-August in 2025 — according to BruxellesToday.
While shootings have been less deadly in 2026 — with 2 deaths and 21 injuries in the first half of the year — the problem appears to be spreading. In 2026, 63% of shootings occurred outside the 18 designated Brussels hotspots, compared to 46% in 2025.
Political Response and Next Steps
Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès announced that a new Brussels police prefect would take office from the end of September 2026 to develop a comprehensive security strategy. Federal Minister of Security and Interior Bernard Quintin vowed that the government would “never renounce its determination to fight firmly against organized crime and drug trafficking.”
Prosecutor Julien Moinil noted that many shootings are ordered from prison via mobile phones, particularly from Haren prison, and called for better security measures in detention facilities. The King’s Prosecutor is expected to hold a press conference in the coming days to provide an update on the ongoing investigations.
As the violence continues to escalate, residents of Saint-Gilles and neighboring municipalities are left wondering when the cycle of shootings will end — and whether the promised political responses will be enough to restore a sense of security to Brussels’ streets.