A European qualifier soccer game in Brussels had to be abandoned after a shooting incident that left two people dead.
According to the Associated Press, Belgium and Sweden were in the middle of their qualifying match for the upcoming Euro 24 tournament when two visiting fans were shot and killed nearby. The match, which took place on Monday, had to be suspended as police locked the stadium down at halftime, with the gunman still on the loose.
Soccer insider Fabrizio Romano has reported that the game was not abandoned immediately and was only stopped because the players refused to return to the field out of concern for everyone’s safety.
Eric Van Duyse of the federal prosecutor’s office in Belgium has revealed that authorities are investigating “a possible terrorist motivation for the shooting” and that the nationality of the victims might have been a motivating factor.
“This person claims to be inspired by Islamic State,” Van Duyse added. “The Swedish nationality of the victims was put forward as the probable motive. “At this time, no element indicates a possible link with the Israeli-Palestinian situation.”
As for the game, there’s been nothing on when it will be replayed. Scores were locked at 1-1 before it was abandoned.
