FOUR people – two from Israel – have been killed in a “terrorist attack” at a
Jewish Museum in the Belgian capital Brussels.
Three were shot dead and a fourth died in hospital today after the slaughter
at around 3.50pm.
Police arrested one suspect last night and are still hunting another after the
bloody attack which left two women and two men dead.
The two Israeli victims were a man and a woman on a holiday break from Tel
Aviv.
Chilling CCTV footage has emerged today of the alleged killer wielding a gun
at the Jewish Museum.
The man – wearing a baseball cap – looks to be seen aiming the assault rifle
through a door before walking away.
Police in Paris were on alert today after it was revealed two Jewish brothers
were attacked near a synagogue hours after the four people were shot in
Brussels.
The pair – wearing “traditional” clothes – were set upon by two men in the
South East Paris suburb of Creteil.
Albert Elharrar, president of the Jewish Community of Creteil, said: “One of
the brothers was severely injured.
“He was struck in the eye with brass knuckles and is expected to be
hospitalised for ten days.”
Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur said the fourth victim of the Brussels bloodbath
was a man caught up in the “terrorist act”.
He said: “It’s clearly extremely serious, and on the Jewish Museum too, which
isn’t a coincidence.”
Interior Minister Joelle Milquet said everything pointed to an anti-Semitic
attack.
The backpack-wearing gunman opened fire before fleeing in a car.
Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders, one of the first people to arrive at
the scene, said: “I heard bursts of gunfire, rushed here and saw the bodies
on the ground.
“It is terrible and has left me shocked. You cannot help to think that when we
see a Jewish museum, you think of an anti-Semitic act.
“But the investigation will have to show the causes.”
Witnesses were treated for shock after the shooting in the central Sablon
area.
Belgium’s PM Elio Di Rupo expressed his condolences and support for the
victims’ families.
Di Rupo added: “Whatever the exact circumstances were of the shootout, there
are four innocent victims who have been affected.
“It is a deeply symbolic place that was hit, namely the Jewish museum in
Belgium.
“The Belgian government expresses all its support to the Jewish community of
our country. I gave as well our support to the director of the Jewish museum
in Belgium.”
David Cameron penned an open letter to Di Rupo to express Britain’s shock over
the callous attack.
The PM said: “I was appalled to hear of the shootings at the Jewish Museum
yesterday.
“We join you in condemning this dreadful attack and will work with you to
confront such bigotry across Europe.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.”