The Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden was suspended on Monday after a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels left two Swedes killed.
According to The Washington Post, Belgian officials described it as a possible terrorist attack. Fans inside King Baudouin Stadium remained in the venue after it went into lockdown.
“We are monitoring the situation and ask the people of Brussels to be vigilant,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo posted on social media.
According to a report from BBC, a gunman fled the scene and was still considered to be at-large as of the posting of this article. “A video posted on social media showed an Arabic-speaking man claiming he carried out the attack in the name of God,” BBC reported.
ESPN also claims that the man was from the Islamic State Group, better known internationally as ISIS. The video of the man claiming responsibility can be found here.
All of this comes amid an ongoing war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas after a terrorist attack in Israel back on Oct. 7 killed more than 1,400 people. Since then, Israel has engaged in air attacks and is planning for a ground offensive in Palestine to go after Hamas.
This situation has led to widespread protests around the entire world, both in favor of Israel and the Palestinian civilian population. Thousands of Palestinians have also been killed in the war since it broke out.
As for the soccer match between Belgium and Sweden, both sides agreed to not play the match as the events were taking place around them.
“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,” UEFA said in a statement.