Shooting in Broad Daylight Leaves One Dead in Antwerp

A shooting in broad daylight on a busy street in Antwerp left one man dead and two others seriously injured, after an armed confrontation broke out in the Brederodestraat area on Saturday afternoon, February 2, 2019.

The shooting happened at around 2:35 p.m., when the street was busy with people, and police quickly arrived at the scene after several shots were fired. One of the victims, a 28-year-old man, was initially declared clinically dead before later dying from his injuries, while two other men were seriously wounded.

Two Suspects Arrested After Antwerp Shooting

Police arrested a 60-year-old man and his 32-year-old son shortly after the shooting and seized a firearm believed to have been used in the incident. Both suspects were taken into custody and were due to appear before an investigating judge as authorities continued to establish exactly what happened.

The incident took place near a Turkish café in Brederodestraat, an area where tensions between members of Turkish and Kurdish communities had previously led to disturbances. Initial reports suggested that the shooting could have been connected to a dispute between two families, although investigators were still examining the circumstances and motive at the time.

Investigation Focuses on Events Before the Shooting

According to witnesses cited in early reports, there had been a confrontation outside a café on Friday evening, one day before the shooting, and investigators were examining whether the earlier dispute was connected to the violence that followed on Saturday afternoon.

Later evidence presented during the criminal proceedings provided additional details about the sequence of events, including an earlier confrontation between the two groups and damage to businesses in the street before the shooting took place. Investigators also examined surveillance footage from several locations that captured parts of the incident.

The case also attracted attention because Brederodestraat had previously experienced serious tensions between Turkish and Kurdish groups. In October 2017, clashes in the area led to numerous arrests and injuries after violence broke out involving people associated with the Turkish and Kurdish communities.

Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever Reacts

Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever said he was shocked by the events in Brederodestraat and expressed confidence that the judicial investigation would establish the exact circumstances surrounding the shooting.

He also called for peace and public order to be maintained across Antwerp while the authorities continued their investigation.

The Belgian Federal Police later appealed to the public for information from an eyewitness who was present when the shooting occurred. According to the police notice, the shooting took place at approximately 2:35 p.m. on February 2, 2019, and investigators were seeking witnesses who could provide additional information about what happened.