Brussels’ top prosecutor despairs about ‘weapons of war’ amid more gang violence

BRUSSELS — As a wave of violence rocks Brussels, struggling law enforcement agencies need more support from Belgian authorities to cope, the city’s public prosecutor said Tuesday.

“The situation is disastrous enough, to be honest,” Julien Moinil told the Brussels regional parliament, local media reported, arguing that more resources and capacity are needed urgently for probes.

“The local police zone South now has to carry out the investigation with limited resources,” as he pointed out gangsters are “using weapons of war.”

“I don’t want a political war, because that’s not my role. But this can’t last,” Moinil said.

There have been several shootings in Brussels since the beginning of February, in which two people have been killed and at least three injured. Authorities have linked most of the gunfire to drug trafficking and disputes between gangs attempting to gain territory.

The current epidemic of violence began shortly before dawn broke on Feb. 5, when two masked men shot Kalashnikov-style weapons outside the Clemenceau metro station in the west of Brussels. The shooting triggered an hours-long manhunt in the metro tunnels underneath the city, paralyzing part of the network for most of the day.

Another person was injured in a shooting Monday evening in the vicinity of the Saint-Guidon metro station in the same district. Police are still looking for the perpetrator.

On Monday, Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin announced that he will work together with Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to find solutions to drug-related violence in Brussels and pledged to strengthen the federal police.

Moinil said during the meeting Tuesday that he will be “very vigilant” about ensuring the promised police reinforcements actually arrive.

“Yes, [Quintin] is now announcing reinforcements again,” said Moinil. “But enough with the announcements already: How many officers will now finally be added, and when?” asked Moinil.

“I’m optimistic but we do have to wake up urgently,” he added.

Hanne Cokelaere contributed to this report.