Someone must intervene”/ Kalashnikov shots near Midi station as Brussels faces a third consecutive day of violence

Brussels was rocked by another shooting incident on Monday evening after a person opened fire with an automatic weapon near the Bruxelles-Midi railway station. The incident alarmed Belgian authorities as the capital continues to face a series of violent episodes linked to drug trafficking.

The Belga news agency reported that the perpetrator was carrying a Kalashnikov. According to Saint-Gilles Mayor Jean Spinet, the shots were fired in an area where children were also present.

“A boy opened fire with a Kalashnikov in front of children. There are bullet holes in the ground,” Spinet told reporters.

People inside a pizzeria near the scene were forced to lie on the floor to protect themselves. The attacker fled and has not yet been arrested.

Monday’s case marks the third consecutive incident in the same area. On Saturday evening, one person was wounded in a shooting, while on Sunday morning a bullet pierced the window of an apartment.

On Tuesday, the mayor of Saint-Gilles repeated his call for more officers on the ground.

“Someone needs to come and help us,” he said.

Saint-Gilles has faced gang-related violence for years, particularly in the areas around Midi railway station.

In June 2024, a Kalashnikov attack at a café near Midi station left two people dead and three others wounded. Although authorities have announced an increased police presence, the problems in the area continue.

“I have been asking for reinforcements for three years,” Spinet said.

The Saint-Gilles and Midi police zone has around 700 officers. Meanwhile, the municipality increased its annual contribution to the security forces by €1.8 million last year.

Data published by the newspaper Le Soir shows that at least 66 shooting incidents were recorded in the Brussels region during 2026.