Man armed with Kalashnikov arrested at Brussels’ Gare du Midi
The suspect had just arrived by train from France, but his motive remains unknown.
Belgian police and military conducted an arrest at Brussels’ Gare du Midi after customs officers discovered a Kalashnikov rifle in a suspect's bag during a security check, according to Belgian media reports. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin seized the opportunity to praise the government's decision to deploy joint security patrols at Brussels' train and metro stations, stating on X, "Thank you to the services for their swift and decisive action.
This demonstrates that strengthening patrols in train stations and subways with the help of our military is crucial and must be continued, or even expanded."
The suspect, who had recently arrived by train from France, was not brandishing the rifle inside the station when apprehended by authorities. Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind carrying the weapon. Gare du Midi, Belgium’s principal international rail hub, has grappled with crime and insecurity issues for years. Between 2018 and 2022, approximately 3,500 offenses were recorded there annually, comparable to the combined total of offenses across rail stations in 13 major Flemish cities.
The arrest follows a recent spate of gun violence near southern Brussels. In late August, several shootings occurred in the Saint-Gilles neighborhood, injuring individuals and prompting police to detain suspects and seize military-grade firearms.
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