Brussels, Belgium – A 19-year-old man was shot and injured during the early hours of Wednesday in Anderlecht, a district at the heart of Brussels’ escalating gun crime wave, the city’s prosecutor confirmed.
According to the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office, emergency services from the Midi police zone responded to the incident shortly after 1:00 a.m. on 30 April 2025.
“On April 30, 2025, at around 1:00 a.m., the police services of the Midi police zone were called to a shooting that occurred in Rue Ruysdael in Anderlecht,” the statement read.
The young victim suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh. He was quickly transported to the hospital, where his condition was described as stable and not life-threatening.
Authorities say the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. “The investigation is ongoing in order to determine the circumstances of the events, the context in which they occurred, and to identify the perpetrator(s),” officials added. No arrests have been made at this time.
This latest incident is not isolated. The Belgian capital has witnessed a worrying spike in shootings since the start of the year. In just six weeks of 2025, police recorded 11 gun-related incidents across Brussels. These attacks resulted in two deaths and four non-fatal injuries. Several of these shootings occurred in Anderlecht.
The pattern points to a disturbing trend. Officials suspect an intensification of gang activity and drug trafficking networks, which have taken root in certain neighbourhoods over recent years.
The spike in violence is fuelling criticism of the Brussels government. Many believe the administration has been slow to respond to the growing threat posed by criminal networks.
Local leaders are now under increasing pressure to crack down on gang-related crime and bolster public safety measures. Critics have slammed the lack of strong crime-prevention strategies and question the effectiveness of existing policing efforts.
As investigations continue into the latest shooting, the incident adds to a troubling narrative of rising violence in Brussels. Residents of Anderlecht and beyond are demanding answers – and, more urgently, action.
