Brussels Shootings: Minister Declares ‘War We Can’t Lose’ on Drug Violence
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin has declared the fight against drug-related organized crime a “national emergency,” vowing to significantly increase police presence across Brussels following seven shootings in five days that have shaken the Belgian capital. The minister described the escalating violence as “a war we cannot lose,” announcing a federal reserve platoon deployment and new surveillance measures.
A Wave of Violence
The recent surge began with a shooting in Anderlecht’s Cureghem neighborhood on August 20, followed by an attack on the Demosthene police station in Anderlecht on Friday night. According to La DH, two individuals on scooters opened fire on the building just before midnight, striking it with twelve bullets. Police chief Jurgen De Landsheer described the attack as retaliation for “numerous operations conducted during the summer,” saying, “It’s because we’re disturbing them.”
The violence then spread to Saint-Gilles, where RTL Info reported three consecutive days of shootings. On Monday evening, gunfire erupted at Place des Deux Bancs with an automatic weapon, forcing customers at a nearby pizzeria to take cover. Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette described the scene: “A guy fired a Kalashnikov in front of children in my village, I’m furious.” He added, “I comforted children who were seated at the pizzeria terrace. The shooter positioned himself right in front.”
More than 60 shooting incidents have been recorded in Brussels in 2026, potentially beating last year’s record. Since October 2024, the capital has seen 160 shootings, with over 51% occurring outside designated drug “hotspots.”
’National Emergency’ Declared
Following a regional security council (Cores) meeting in Brussels, Quintin declared the fight against drug trafficking a “national emergency,” as reported by RTBF. The minister placed a platoon of the federal reserve at the disposal of Brussels police zones and announced that 77 additional federal police agents have been added to the Brussels force.
Speaking on Matin Première on Thursday, Quintin outlined an aggressive strategy to “flood the ground” with police officers. “Where we currently send sometimes two or three patrols, we need to be able to send five, six, seven,” he said, according to RTBF.
“We are clearly in a territorial war,” the minister stated, describing how gangs are uniting to send a message to the state: “Just leave us to deal in peace or else…” The attack on the Anderlecht police station, he argued, demonstrates that the state itself is now directly targeted.
Concrete Measures
The federal government has allocated 7.5 million euros for surveillance cameras in Brussels, including 1 million euros specifically for the Midi zone, and 25 million euros for cameras across the whole country. Quintin acknowledged delays in camera installation, citing permitting issues and even tree branches blocking views. “Sometimes we need to cut the branches of trees that block the view,” he said.
The minister also called on mayors to use their full administrative powers, including closing businesses linked to illegal activities. “We know very well that there’s a whole network of businesses doing illegal activities. We need to have the courage to close them,” he said.
A telling indicator of the drug crisis: the price of cocaine has plummeted from 100 dollars per gram a few years ago to just 16 dollars today, according to Quintin. The price drop signals oversupply and intense competition in the drug market, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Political Tensions Escalate
The security crisis has intensified political friction between the MR and PS parties. A viral video showing Saint-Gilles Mayor Spinette calmly addressing dealers in the street sparked controversy, with MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez calling the PS the “gravedigger of Brussels.” Spinette fired back, denouncing “political instrumentalization” of the situation, as 7sur7 reported.
N-VA parliamentarian Mathias Vanden Borre attacked PS-led communes, noting that “all the affected communes are ‘red’ communes.” Meanwhile, PTB group leader Françoise De Smedt pointed to a lack of resources: “83 investigators are missing for the judicial police, we lack staff on the field.” Victor Wiard of Les Engagés called for an end to political communication battles, urging “a coherent, managed and evaluated strategy” instead.
Quintin acknowledged the “historical responsibility” for Brussels’ situation but insisted, “At some point, we need to stop the petty political games.” He emphasized that the fight must extend beyond Belgium’s borders: “We must work on the whole chain. It’s not only in Brussels or Belgium that we’ll manage to solve this.”
What’s Next
The Brussels police zone fusion—merging six zones into one by January 1, 2028—was approved by the Chamber and is presented by Quintin as a way to increase available capacity, as Bruxelles Today reported. The new zone will be the largest in Belgium with approximately 6,500 officers.
Saint-Gilles Mayor Spinette expressed cautious optimism after the Cores meeting, saying he had regained “a little more smile” and describing a “national awareness” in the face of organized crime. “The platoon wasn’t promised for months from now. It’s being set up right away,” he noted.
As Brussels confronts this unprecedented wave of violence, Quintin’s message is clear: “The war against drug trafficking is a war we cannot lose. It means we must fight every battle. And it’s a long-term struggle.” The coming weeks will test whether the announced measures can translate into visible results on the streets of the Belgian capital.