Anderlecht police station hit by automatic gunfire amid PS-MR political clash

A police station in Anderlecht, Belgium, was targeted by automatic gunfire late Friday night, an incident described as a significant escalation in the city's security concerns. The commissariat Démosthène, which still houses police teams, was fired upon around 11:40 p.m. by two individuals on scooters, one firing and the other filming, before they fled. This event has reignited a fierce political debate between the Socialist Party (PS) and the Reformist Movement (MR), the two main parties in Brussels.

Socialist leaders immediately criticized the federal Minister of the Interior, Bernard Quintin of the MR, accusing him of inaction and insufficient measures against organized crime. Ahmed Laaouej, Brussels PS leader and minister, questioned how many more shootings and targeted police officers would be needed before "serious action" is taken. He called for urgent reinforcement of the judicial police, increased police presence in Brussels, and more resources for police zones, the judiciary, and the public prosecutor's office.

Ridouane Chahid, a federal PS deputy, echoed these sentiments, stating he had been raising concerns about rising drug-related violence and police resources for months. He demanded "acts, not words" from Minister Quintin, emphasizing the need for more police officers, investigators, magistrates, resources, and a concrete strategy against drug trafficking and illegal weapons.

Conversely, the MR defended its record, with Minister Quintin stating that the current security situation is the "heritage" of those who governed Brussels over the past 20 years, particularly the PS. He asserted that the federal government is working to rectify past mistakes, deploying unprecedented resources, reinforcing the Brussels Judicial Police, and supporting local police zones. The MR pointed to increased camera installations and military deployment in stations and metros as evidence of their strategy producing results.