Fourth shooting in three days deepens fear among Saint-Gilles residents
A gunman fired an automatic weapon near a pizzeria in Saint-Gilles on Monday evening, the fourth reported shooting in the municipality since Saturday, without injuring anyone.
Repeated gunfire in residential and commercial streets exposes bystanders to immediate danger and erodes residents’ sense of safety. The latest incident is especially serious because an automatic weapon was discharged close to children and café customers.
Updated 25 August 2026, 12:15 CEST — . A gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon at the junction of Rue Gustave Defnet and Rue du Monténégro in at about 21:30 on Monday, 24 August. No injuries were reported, and the attacker escaped, according to BRUZZ and local mayor .
Spinette told BRUZZ that children were sitting outside a nearby pizzeria when the shooter took position close to them. The mayor, who said he heard the shots and went to the scene, described comforting children after the attack. The -South police investigation remains open, and authorities have not publicly identified the gunman or confirmed the intended target.
The incident was the fourth reported shooting in since Saturday. A man was wounded at Place des Deux Bancs on Saturday evening. Less than ten hours later, another shooting damaged a resident’s balcony. BX1 reported that gunfire near Chaussée de early Monday injured one person and led to two arrests. The latest burst of fire on Monday evening caused no reported casualties.
The rapid sequence has intensified residents’ fear in densely populated streets where homes, cafés and shops sit close together. Het Nieuwsblad spoke to residents considering leaving the neighbourhood, while others said moving was financially or practically difficult. Their accounts show how repeated violence changes daily routines even when bystanders escape physical injury.
The wider trend is documented by federal police figures reported by Het Nieuwsblad: registered 57 shootings during the first seven months of 2026, with two deaths and 21 injuries. The same source reported 101 shootings, eight deaths and 43 injuries during all of 2025. Investigators have not publicly established a connection between every incident in the latest sequence.
After meeting Interior Minister Bernard Quintin on Tuesday, the mayors of , and demanded a national plan against drug-related organised crime. BRUZZ reported that Quintin called the situation a national emergency but made no immediate commitment of additional personnel. Spinette is considering formally requesting federal police support.
Justice Minister said on Sunday that organised crime and drug-related violence remain a federal priority. Police updates on the suspects, targets and possible links between the shootings are now the immediate test of whether the latest attacks form one connected campaign or several separate cases.
Impact
Regional — The attacks place additional pressure on the Brussels-South police zone and renew the dispute over how local, regional and federal authorities should divide personnel, intelligence and enforcement responsibilities.
Local — Residents and businesses in Saint-Gilles face the most immediate consequences, particularly around residential and commercial streets where gunfire could endanger customers, children and passers-by. The incidents add operational pressure to the Brussels-South police zone, which also covers Anderlecht and Forest. For the three municipalities, the dispute now concerns whether existing local resources are adequate and what additional personnel, intelligence support or enforcement capacity should be supplied by regional and federal authorities.
What it means for you
People in Saint-Gilles should treat active gunfire as an immediate emergency: move away from windows and the street, seek secure shelter and contact emergency services rather than approaching or filming the scene. Residents should expect a heightened police presence or temporary access restrictions around an investigation site. Parents and customers using local businesses may wish to check routes before travelling. The next concrete development to watch is whether federal authorities answer the three Brussels-South mayors’ demand for a national action plan and additional support.
Opposing perspectives
- Brussels-South mayors
The mayors of Saint-Gilles, Anderlecht and Forest say the scale of organised drug violence has exceeded the capacity of individual municipalities and requires a national action plan, stronger federal support and solidarity from other police zones.
- Federal interior minister
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin says federal reinforcements and other resources have already been deployed and that authorities must evaluate existing measures before deciding on further action. He also places responsibility on local mayors to request specific support.
Who, where and what
Key people, places and terms in this story
Mayor of Saint-Gilles during the sequence of shootings.
Belgian justice minister whose office issued a reaction to the recent shootings and persistent violence.
Brussels municipality where four shootings were reported over three days.
Capital region that recorded 57 shootings, two deaths and 21 injuries through July 2026.
Municipality covered by the Brussels-South police zone.
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Mayor of Saint-Gilles during the sequence of shootings.
Belgian justice minister whose office issued a reaction to the recent shootings and persistent violence.
Brussels municipality where four shootings were reported over three days.
Capital region that recorded 57 shootings, two deaths and 21 injuries through July 2026.
Municipality covered by the Brussels-South police zone.
Municipality covered by the Brussels-South police zone.
Four reported shootings between 22 and 24 August 2026, culminating in automatic gunfire near a pizzeria.
Measure demanded by the three mayors within the Brussels-South police zone.
Local police zone responsible for Saint-Gilles, Anderlecht and Forest.
Sources & evidence
- View sourceHet NieuwsbladPrimaryprimary· nieuwsblad.be· 25 August 2026Retrieved 25 August 2026· 38 days ago· Dated
- View sourceBRUZZcorroborating· bruzz.be· 25 August 2026Retrieved 25 August 2026· 38 days ago· Dated
- View sourceBX1corroborating· bx1.be· 24 August 2026Retrieved 25 August 2026· 39 days ago· Dated
- View sourceOffice of Justice Minister Annelies Verlindenofficial· verlinden.belgium.be· 23 August 2026Retrieved 25 August 2026· 40 days ago· Dated
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This briefing was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by a Belgium Impulse editor before publication. methodology.