Euros qualifier between Belgium and Sweden abandoned after two people shot dead in Brussels

The 2024 Euros qualifier between Belgium and Sweden has been abandoned after two people were reportedly shot dead in Brussels.

The Group F fixture was abandoned at half time with Belgium’s prime minister Alexandre de Croo confirming the two people shot dead on Monday evening were Swedish nationals.

Initial reports from Brussels state that the pair were wearing Swedish football shirts with the shooting taking place before the nations met at the King Baudouin Stadium on the outskirts of the city.

De Croo wrote on Twitter: “I have just offered my sincere condolences to @SwedishPM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels. Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”

An announcement in the stadium said: “The players decided they do not want to continue the game, because of what happened earlier today in Brussels.”

The statement was also spoken in English, French, Dutch and Swedish and the crowd applauded after it.

Uefa said: “Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned. Further communication will be made in due course.”

The Swedish players told Uefa that they didn’t want to play the second half with the Belgium team also agreeing, according to Swedish broadcaster TV6.

“The terror level in Brussels has now been raised to the maximum level.”

Football fans have been told to stay in Belgium’s national stadium after two Swedish people were shot dead.

Sky’s @adamparsons has this update from Brussels.https://t.co/cPojFIv9Rr

📺 Sky 501 / YouTube pic.twitter.com/cSfo2WGXjP

— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 16, 2023

Swedish Justice Minister, Gunnar Strommer, stated that his government was working with authorities in Belgium “to get more information about what happened”.

“Tonight we have received terrible news from Brussels,” he said in a statement.

“The government office and relevant authorities are working intensively to get more information about what happened.”

Brussels has increased its terror threat to the highest level (level 4) with the gunman, claiming to be a member of ISIS, fleeing the scene and had still been at large.

The suspect was shot and arrested by police and the weapon believed to have been used by the man has been recovered.

“It seems indeed the suspect has been neutralised,” the Belgian capital’s mayor Philippe Close told BFM TV.

Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said Tuesday that “we have the good news that we found the individual”.

The gunman started shooting – at men wearing their national team’s jerseys and were on their way to the match at King Baudouin Stadium – as they passed through Boulevard d’Ypres just a few minutes north of the city’s Grand Plaza.

Prosecutors said that they are treating the shooting as terrorism.

A video uploaded online shows a male, speaking in Arabic, claiming he carried out the attack in the name of God.

The male in the clip, is also heard saying he has killed three people. The Federal Prosecutor’s office has confirmed it has seen the video but cannot confirm he is the gunman.

Federal prosecutors in Belgium told the AFP news agency that a terrorism probe has been opened following the shooting on the Boulevard d’Ypres.

The alleged attacker has used the name ‘Slayem Slouma’ to boast about the two murders via Facebook, adding he sought to avenge the killing of a US-Palestinian boy aged 6.

The game between Belgium and Sweden in Belgium has been abandoned at Half Time after news broke that 2 Sweden fans were tragically shot and killed before the game this evening.

Such awful news. 😔 pic.twitter.com/IyJJxwJVyC

— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) October 16, 2023

Stade Roi Baudoin supporting Sweden. #Bruxelles #Brussels pic.twitter.com/Rn38lcLjXX

— Victor A. 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@VictorAlenBE) October 16, 2023

Due to the incidents in Brussels earlier tonight, play is suspended. Our thoughts are with all those affected. pic.twitter.com/RTZHBEjjOC

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 16, 2023

Twitter users reacted with the Euros qualifier between Belgium and Sweden abandoned after two people were shot dead in Brussels…

@HarveyDiamonds: Praying for those in Brussels 💔

@KonceptKitz: Thoughts are with the families of the individuals who have been killed tonight in Brussels. Absolutely dreadful to see this happening again to innocent people going about their business. To anyone in Brussels, stay safe and look after each other #Brussels #Belgique

@NortUtd: No one should ever fear about not getting home. Heartbreaking. Thoughts are with there families

@SmithyWFC85: RIP. How awful and tragic. Condolences to them.

@Brandon_WF1: Horrible news breaking out of Brussels this evening in the #EURO2024 qualifier between Belgium & Sweden. Thoughts with all the loved ones and friends of those involved. Correct decision taken to completely abandon it. Football should always come 2nd at times like this

@AVWFCNews: Our Thoughts and Prayers are with Belgium and Sweden at this time. RIP to the two Swedish Fans. Stay safe everyone ❤️🇧🇪🇸🇪

@Heisholt: What a bloody sick world we live in. Two Swedish football fans gunned down and killed in Brussels. Sweden & Belgium refused to play 2 half. Swedes advised to stay in the stadium and take off their blue & yellow colors. Killer still on the loose. Sick, sick world. #sweden #ALAW

@john_nufc42: Such a sad state of affairs.. this is so heartbreaking 💔 hope the game gets abandoned this can’t go on !! RIP for the two Swedish fans 💔😞

@1882spurs1: This world is getting worse. How on earth did we ever get to this point?

@AndersBSvensson: Very sad. Good on the Swedish players for refusing. Some things are bigger than football.

@lee1892Johnson: This world man…… poor people & there families!

@Lizz_PaperLight: There are bigger things than football. I hope people in the stadium and elsewhere stay safe 💔 RIP 🇸🇪

@MattyJago: Ffs 😩😣☹️ This world is well and truly f**king broken!! Love to all involved over in Brussels 🙏 #Brussels

@FUTForza: So sad. Footy events should be a place of enjoyment and unity, and it’s understandable that players may make such a decision to show respect and concern for the circumstances. #SafetyFirst #SwedenStrong

@Coppice83: No one should go to a game and not return home, RIP and fly high 🖤🤍 🕊️ x #Belgique #Sweden

Scene from the stadium, people are not allowed to go out. #Brussels #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/aSPmk39J9A

— Hursh Gupta (@HurshGupta) October 16, 2023