Saint-Gilles has been grappling with drug-related violence for years, particularly around the train station. In June 2024, two people were killed and three others injured when gunmen opened fire with Kalashnikovs at a café near Brussels-Midi station, in an incident authorities linked to drug trafficking. Authorities subsequently stepped up police presence in several hotspots in the area, but not sufficiently, according to Spinette. “I’ve been asking for reinforcements for three years,” he said.
Around 700 police officers work across Saint-Gilles and the wider Midi police zone, while the municipality increased its annual contribution to the police force by €1.8 million last year. At least 66 shootings have been documented across the wider Brussels region in 2026, Le Soir reports.
“Drug criminals are issuing threats because we are disrupting their operations,” Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin told Belgian public broadcaster VRT. “We must continue this fight with determination. It will be a long one.” Quintin said he had already sent 77 additional officers to Brussels and was considering sending more.