Police fatally shoot terrorist suspected of killing two Swedes in Belgium

The Tunisian gunman suspected of murdering two Swedish soccer fans in the Belgium capital of Brussels died Tuesday after police shot him in a cafe following a several-hour manhunt, officials said.

A person claiming to be the 45-year-old suspect who police did not identify had posted a video online claiming responsibility for the attack and stating that he was inspired by the Islamic State, Federal Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw's office said Tuesday. 

Officials did not name the suspect, but Reuters reports that the man identified himself on social media as Abdesalem Al Guilani.

The suspect was illegally living in Belgium after unsuccessfully seeking asylum in the country in 2019, Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said.

The Swedish nationality of the victims was a potential motive for the attack, officials said, citing the social media video. Sweden has been in the center of controversy in the Islamic world after an Iraqi refugee in the country publicly burned a series of Qurans.

"The perpetrator targeted specifically Swedish supporters who were in Brussels to attend a Red Devils soccer match. Two Swedish compatriots passed away. A third person is recovering from severe injuries," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. The match, which was a Euro 2024 qualifying match, was abandoned at halftime.

Belgium raised its terror alert Monday in response to the attack, but said it does not currently appear that the attack was linked to the conflict in Israel involving the Hamas terrorists governing the Gaza Strip. 

Officials did not state whether the incident in Brussels may have been motivated by the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy by a man who was motivated by the conflict in Israel.

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