Severe disruptions hit the Brussels metro system on Wednesday morning following a shooting incident near the Clemenceau station in Anderlecht, prompting an extensive police operation.
Metro and tram services affected
The Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB) announced that metro lines 2 and 6 were suspended between Trône, close to the European Parliament, and Gare de l’Ouest in Anderlecht. Additionally, tram lines 4 and 10 were halted between Gare du Nord in Schaerbeek and Churchill in Uccle, while tram lines 51 and 81 experienced interruptions between Porte d’Anderlecht and Brussels Midi, which lies to the west of the city center.
Authorities also confirmed that the Clemenceau, Delacroix, and Brussels Midi metro stations have been closed as part of the security measures enacted by law enforcement.
Police investigation ongoing
Reports suggest that the suspects may be hiding in the metro tunnels. Sarah Frederickx, a spokesperson for the Brussels South police, shared details, stating, “A shooting took place. The images from the surveillance cameras show that the suspects fled towards the Clemenceau metro station.” She emphasized that the shutdown of the metro line was necessary for safety reasons, confirming, “There are no victims.”
In response to the disruptions, STIB spokesperson Guy Sablon recommended that commuters utilize metro lines 1 and 5, as well as other available bus and tram services. He noted, “Our network is pretty dense in the city centre so there should be alternative means of transport. This said, there is a big impact in the area around Midi — our busiest station.” Meanwhile, SNCB, Belgium’s national railway operator, indicated that the majority of the disruptions were concentrated on metro lines.
This situation is currently evolving, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.