Brussels mayor demands 80 police officers after three shootings hit Saint-Gilles and Anderlecht
Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette called for judicial police reinforcements and judicial resources after gunfire struck a police station, wounded a man at a drug hub, and hit a residential window within 32 hours.
Shootings across the Brussels-Midi police zone
Three separate shooting incidents occurred within 32 hours across the Brussels-Midi police zone, which covers the Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles, and Forest municipalities. The sequence began on Friday, 21 August 2026, at approximately 23:40, when perpetrators carrying a heavy weapon fired several rounds at a police station on rue Démosthène in Anderlecht. Impact marks were found on the building structure, but no officers or civilians sustained injuries, and two suspects fled the scene riding an electric scooter. Less than 22 hours later, on Saturday evening at 21:15, gunfire erupted in Saint-Gilles, injuring a man in the leg. On Sunday morning around 07:00, a third shooting occurred along chaussée de Forest, sending a stray round into an inhabited apartment.
- Gunmen on an e-scooter fire a heavy weapon at the Anderlecht police station on rue Démosthène
- A man is shot in the leg at Place des Deux Bancs in Saint-Gilles
- A stray bullet penetrates a bedroom window at 4 rue Fontainas near Porte de Hal
Incidents at Place des Deux Bancs and rue Fontainas
The Saturday night shooting took place at the intersection of rue Gustave Defnet, rue du Monténégro, and chaussée de Forest, near rue Théodore Verhaegen. An eyewitness sitting on a nearby terrace told local broadcaster BRUZZ that a sudden blast and muzzle flash occurred while the victim was seated on a concrete table on the square. Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinette arrived at the scene and confirmed to Belga news agency at 22:30 that the victim's injuries were not life-threatening. Police cordoned off the perimeter around Place des Deux Bancs by 23:00 to collect evidence and launch an investigation into the circumstances. On Sunday at 07:00, another shot on chaussée de Forest near Porte de Hal pierced a window at number 4 rue Fontainas, where a resident was asleep in bed. Belga reported that the resident was unharmed but frightened, while forensic teams sealed the bedroom for ballistic analysis.
Drug trade and neighborhood complaints
Municipal authorities linked the weekend shootings directly to ongoing turf disputes between narcotics dealers. The area surrounding Place des Deux Bancs is a known drug distribution point in Saint-Gilles, where local residents have repeatedly complained about public disturbances and open dealing. In January 2025, neighborhood residents posted videos on social media documenting transactions taking place beneath their windows. Those recordings revealed a drive-in arrangement in which buyers in cars purchased narcotics without leaving their vehicles. Responding to the attack on the Anderlecht station, Brussels Minister-President stated that the targeting of police infrastructure was another wake-up call for the capital.
Mayoral demands for federal reinforcements
Following Sunday's gunfire, Mayor Spinette expressed anger over the recurring violence during a broadcast on RTL.
That is enough! We need reinforcements.
Spinette held telephone consultations on Sunday morning with Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil to coordinate institutional action. The mayor demanded that Brussels receive security allocations matching those provided to Antwerp, specifically requesting 80 additional federal judicial police officers to conduct thorough investigations and trace trafficking rings. Spinette also called for increased operational capacity for the prosecutor's office, more places in youth protection centers (IPPJ), and expanded measures to deport undocumented individuals involved in criminal networks.
Brussels must be respected.
