Brussels logs 69 shootings in 2026 as drug turf war intensifies
Why it matters: Prosecutors say rival gangs are driving a retaliation cycle, prompting 40 more police officers and added mobile cameras.
Brussels has recorded 69 shooting incidents so far in 2026, with prosecutors linking most of the violence to a turf war between rival drug gangs. The Belgian capital has seen masked gunmen use automatic weapons in a string of attacks in recent days, wounding several people and even targeting a police station. Chief prosecutor Julien Moinil said the city has logged 170 shootings since the start of 2025 and warned that gang leaders operating from abroad and from prison must be stopped. Authorities this week moved to deploy 40 additional police officers and more mobile cameras. Police say Brussels has more than 200 drug-dealing points, while the nearby port of Antwerp remains a major gateway for cocaine entering Europe.