17th October, 2023
The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at half time after two Swedish nationals were shot dead in Brussel.
A third person was also injured in the attack which prosecutors are treating as terrorism.
The match was 1-1 at half time, but the players did not come back for the second half for security reason.
According to BCC, Brussels is on its highest terror alert as the gunman, who appeared to have an assault rifle, remains at large.
An evacuation of the stadium began at about 22:45.
The Sweden team were given a police escort to the airport, while Sweden fans were accompanied by the police into the city.
About 400 Sweden fans spent the night in hotels under police protection on Monday night.
Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at a news conference on Tuesday called the killings “a harrowing act of terrorism”.
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) said it received news of the killings just before the match, but it started as planned because Belgian authorities and police considered the stadium – 5km (three miles) from the location of the shooting – “the safest place”.
Players and officials were told at half-time, with the score 1-1. Sweden captain and Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof said security put the team “at ease”.
French President, Emmanuel Macron in a tweet said “I have just spoken with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to express the solidarity of the French in this terrible moment that Brussels is going through.
“We think of the victims of this cowardly attack, as well as our Belgian and Swedish friends whose shock we share.”