Belgium’s Defense Minister, Theo Francken, has said that troops could be deployed to patrol Brussels alongside police officers in response to the city’s rising gang violence. Local media report roughly 60 shootings this year, two of which have been fatal, prompting authorities to consider extraordinary measures to restore order.
Security and Home Affairs Minister Bernard Quentin has described the situation as “a catastrophe” and called for joint police‑military teams to patrol “criminal hotspots.” Francken, a member of the Flemish nationalist N‑VA party, says he is open to increasing security in the capital but stresses that any troop deployment must be legally justified and limited to essential security duties.
Public prosecutor Julien Moinil reported 57 shootings in Brussels by mid‑August, including 20 during the summer months, and warned that the growing danger of violent crime puts every resident at risk of being hit by a stray bullet. Many incidents have occurred in neighborhoods such as Anderlecht and Molenbeek, areas known for gang activity and drug trafficking.
Officials note that Brussels’ demographic shift—46 % of residents are foreign‑born compared with 18 % nationwide—has deepened the city’s social and security challenges. A recent Euronews report labeled Brussels the “gun‑crime capital of Europe,” underscoring the need for a coordinated crackdown on gangs.
Francken has not ruled out deploying troops before the end of the year, stating, “Security falls to the police, not to the army. However, when the Interior Minister asks me, it becomes a task for Defense, which must protect the nation.” The situation is being closely monitored, and authorities face pressure to find a solution to the escalating gang violence and restore order in the capital.
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