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🇮🇸 Iceland /Crime & Justice

Brussels prosecutor seeks more funds amid surge in shootings

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Brussels prosecutor Julien Moinil is requesting increased funding for police investigation departments to combat rising gun violence.
  • The city has experienced a significant wave of gun violence recently, with 69 shootings this year and 170 since the start of 2025, largely linked to turf wars between rival drug gangs.
  • Belgium serves as a key entry point for drugs into Europe, with the port of Antwerp being a major hub for criminal organizations.

Brussels is grappling with an escalating wave of gun violence, prompting the city's chief prosecutor to demand more resources to tackle drug trafficking gangs. Julien Moinil stated that 69 shootings have occurred in the Belgian capital this year, with a total of 170 since the beginning of 2025.

Moinil attributes most of the violence to a turf war between two rival drug trafficking groups, describing it as a "vicious cycle of revenge." He highlighted that these gangs are increasingly recruiting young people from France and undocumented immigrants as foot soldiers.

Anyone could be a victim of a shooting.

— Julien MoinilBrussels chief prosecutor Julien Moinil speaking to reporters about the surge in gun violence.

Belgium's strategic location makes it a primary gateway for drugs entering Europe, with the massive port of Antwerp serving as a critical node for criminal networks. The rise in armed violence connected to gang conflicts has been a growing concern in recent years, despite authorities' efforts to disrupt these organizations.

It is clear that they seem to be in conflict and that is why we are seeing a vicious cycle of revenge.

— Julien MoinilBrussels chief prosecutor Julien Moinil explaining the link between drug gang rivalries and the escalating violence.
About this summary

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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