The Islamist State Group took responsibility on Tuesday for killing the two Swedes in Brussels while the city was bustling for the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers match. The jihad group cited that they targeted Sweden for its membership in a global coalition battling jihadists.“An Islamic State fighter carried out an attack against” Swedish nationals on Monday, IS said in a statement issued on the jihadists news arm Amaq, adding that, “the attack comes in the context of operations called for by the Islamic State to target nationals of coalition countries”.Brussels shooting incidentAccording to media reports, a 45 year old gunman who shot down two Swedes was gunned down by the police on Tuesday morning. The attack in Belgium is the second attack in Europe amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war after a teacher was killed by Islamic extremists last week in France.Following the attack in Brussels, the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifier match between Belgium and Sweden was dropped by the sports organisation.An announcement was made by Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on the social media platform X that read “Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.”Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned. Further communication will be made in…— UEFA (@UEFA) October 16, 2023After the news of the shooting ran through the city spectators and fans at the site were asked to stay in the King Baudouin stadium in the Belgian capital for security reasons.The countrys threat risk was raised to four, its highest level, following the killings. This was lowered to three on Tuesday after the authorities assessed that the imminent threat had disappeared following the suspects killing.
