Staff Reporter.
(BBC Sport) – Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden was abandoned at half-time for security reasons after two Swedish people were shot dead in Brussels.
The killings happened in the city before the game. The gunman fled the scene and is still at large.
Prosecutors say they are treating the shooting as terrorism.
Belgian police instructed Sweden fans to stay inside the King Baudouin Stadium for their own safety after the game was stopped.
Belgium’s National Crisis Centre, the national body that co-ordinates emergency planning, said that it was looking at ways to escort supporters safely from the stadium.
Uefa said: “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 due course.”
The Swedish players told Uefa that they did not want to play the second half and the Belgium team agreed, according to Swedish broadcaster TV6.
It is not yet known whether the victims were in Brussels to watch the Euro 2024 qualifier.
A Swedish FA social media post said: “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”
The Belgian national team’s account wrote: “Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
A video posted on social media showed an Arabic-speaking man claiming he carried out the attack in the name of God.
Following the shooting on Boulevard d’Ypres, which happened at around 18:00 BST (19:00 local time), police and emergency services cordoned off nearby roads.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo “offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight’s harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels”.
He added: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one.”
The game was 1-1 when it was abandoned.