Brussels shooting linked to drugs follows attack on police station

A man was injured in a shooting in Brussels on Friday night that followed an attack on a police station, an incident authorities have linked to drug trafficking and organized crime in the city.

Brussels-Capital Region Minister-President Boris Dilliès called the incident "yet another wake-up call" for the Belgian capital in a post on X, vowing that organized crime would not be allowed to take over the city. He said his government is taking action, including appointing a Brussels commissioner for drugs starting in September and restricting the use of e-scooters, which he said are often exploited by criminals.

The city's top prosecutor, Julien Moinil, said the choice of target in Friday night's shooting showed a clear intent to undermine authority, but insisted the perpetrators would not succeed. He noted that many shootings in Brussels are ordered from inside prisons and called for the creation of secure zones where mobile phones cannot function, to cut off communication from inmates.

Scale of the violence

According to broadcaster VRT, Brussels recorded 57 shootings in the first seven months of 2026, leaving two people dead and 21 injured.