In brief
In late August, Brussels saw a sudden spike in gunfire linked to drug gangs, including a brutal attack on a local pizzeria that left bullet impacts across the façade. Police report over 100 shootings in 2025 and more than 65 this year, with the neighborhood of St Gilles witnessing three incidents in just three days. Residents such as Salvatore and Murielle recount the terror of drug‑related violence infiltrating everyday streets, while police chief Jurgen de Landsheer stresses the need for prevention over repression. The government has deployed extra officers, yet experts warn that without broader social interventions the violence will persist.
In late August, Brussels’s streets turned violent when a drug‑related shooting struck Salvatore’s pizzeria in St Gilles, leaving bullet holes on the building’s exterior. Witnesses describe the scene as an accidental “American gangster movie.”
The attack on the restaurant, located just a block from the international Midi train station, is part of a surge in gunfire tied to drug‑trafficking. Police have recorded over 100 incidents in 2025 alone and 65 this year, with three shootings happening in the same neighbourhood within three days.
“One could say we live in a movie scene right now,” Salvatore says, reflecting on the constant threat he faces. He calls for an end to the violence that has been shaking the once‑peaceful district.
Local resident Murielle, 70, hopes the situation will improve. She describes how the neighbourhood used to feel like a “little village inside the city,” and remembers the once‑polite drug dealers who would simply agree to stay away when asked.
Murielle recounts seeing drug dealers in plain sight, meeting clients and selling “crack” to the poorest residents. She laments that the business has intensified, with rumors that some spots go up to €50,000 per day.
Chief of Brussels South Police, Jurgen de Landsheer, warns that organised crime has become “significantly more violent.” He notes that police patrol every neighbourhood, but stresses the necessity of building a safer community through prevention, not just repression.
The surge in violence has led the interior minister to deploy 40 additional officers to problem areas. De Landsheer also stresses that a solely police‑based solution will fail; social programs and opportunities for young people must also be part of the answer.
Despite the growing tension, residents like Salvatore and Murielle remain resolute, vowing not to be intimidated and holding out hope that the city’s streets will soon feel safe again.
