Brussels Mayors Demand Federal Action Plan Against Drug War

The mayors of Saint-Gilles, Anderlecht, and Forest have demanded a federal action plan to combat the drug war gripping the Brussels Capital Region, following a wave of shootings that has escalated to an unprecedented attack on a police station. The three mayors met with Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin at the main police station of the Brussels South police zone on Tuesday, according to VRT NWS.

A Wave of Violence

The demand comes after at least six shooting incidents across Brussels in recent days. The most alarming occurred on the night of August 21-22, when an unknown gunman opened fire on a police station in the Demosthenesstraat in Anderlecht with a heavy weapon, firing more than 10 bullets. No one was injured, but police chief Jurgen De Landsheer called it a crossing of a red line. “The fact that an institution like the police becomes the target of such criminals is concerning,” he said, as reported by VRT NWS.

Saint-Gilles has experienced shootings for three consecutive days. On Monday night, an automatic weapon was fired at the intersection of the Gustave Defnetstraat and Montenegrostraat, forcing customers of a nearby pizzeria to take cover from the hail of bullets. Children were present in the pizzeria at the time. “They have crossed all boundaries,” said Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette. “The whole neighborhood heard the shots, these people have no respect for human life.” BRUZZ reported on the incident.

A National Urgency

Minister Quintin, who met with the mayors for approximately two hours, described the situation as “a national urgency. Everyone must take their responsibility.” He attributed the surge in violence to the success of police operations against drug trafficking. “Drug criminals are sending threats because we disrupt their operations,” he said. “They warn us, but the police must not give in. We must continue this fight with determination. It will be a long one.” La Libre also covered the minister’s remarks.

Quintin noted that he has already sent 77 extra police officers to the area and is evaluating whether that number can be increased. He also pointed to a €1 million investment in new surveillance cameras around Brussels-South, though installation may take up to two years due to issues with trees.

Dispute Over Resources

Mayor Spinette is demanding that Brussels receive “the same resources as Antwerp” for its federal judicial police, arguing that local police cannot dismantle the overarching criminal structures. Quintin countered that he has actually strengthened the Brussels Federal Judicial Police more than in Antwerp. The dispute reflects ongoing tensions between the mayors and the minister, who in April stated in Le Soir that “the situation is what it is because the same people have been failing at security for years.” The mayors strongly rejected that claim, noting that their municipalities have been allocating additional resources to the police zone since 2012, as BRUZZ documented.

Political Pressure Mounts

Opposition parties PS and Vlaams Belang are requesting that the Chamber’s Interior Affairs committee convene to question the minister. PS MP Ridouane Chahid called the succession of shootings “unacceptable” and said “a strong government response is needed to dismantle these networks.” Vlaams Belang MP Ortwin Depoortere, who chairs the committee, questioned “which number is larger: the number of whizzing bullets, or the broken promises of the government to do something about it.” The PS has also requested a joint meeting of the Chamber’s Interior and Justice committees, as reported by BRUZZ.

A Deepening Crisis

The South Police Zone, covering Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles, and Forest, is the Brussels police zone most affected by drug violence. In 2024, the zone registered 2,282 drug-related incidents - more than six per day - and conducted 2,366 intervention operations in its six notorious drug hotspots alone, according to BRUZZ.

Brussels recorded 101 shooting incidents in 2025 - a record - and as of July 31, 2026, there had already been 57 shootings in public spaces, suggesting 2026 could surpass that mark. Brussels Prosecutor Julien Moinil called the attack on the police station “unacceptable” and highlighted systemic issues, noting that the Haren prison remains insufficiently secured and that shootings are allegedly organized from within using mobile phones.

What’s Next

Mayor Spinette warned that “sooner or later, innocent victims will fall” if the situation is not addressed. He called for a major joint action from the municipality, the Brussels Region, and the federal government. Quintin has made himself available to the Chamber’s Interior Affairs committee and is expected to visit the Anderlecht police station later today. The mayors, for their part, remain cautious. “At this moment, no promises have been made yet,” Spinette said. “I hope we’ve been heard, but we’ll see.”

As the drug war in Brussels continues to escalate, the question of whether federal and local authorities can align on a coordinated response will be critical. With the violence showing no signs of abating, the pressure on all levels of government to deliver results has never been greater.