Abdesalem, 45, who is believed to have been in Belgium illegally, fled the scene after allegedly gunning down the pair and wounding a third, all of whom were football fans believed to be in town to watch a Euro2024 qualifying match between Sweden and Belgium. He was tracked down by authorities and killed while sitting at a cafe just hours after the seemingly random attack took place.
According to the BBC, on Tuesday morning a tourist staying at a hotel in downtown Brussels informed police that he had seen Abdesalam at a nearby cafe with what appeared to be a military-style weapon and a bag of clothes.
Police quickly moved in and shot him in the chest. He was taken to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. The cafe has since been cordoned off as police continue their investigation.
The original incident occurred around 7 p.m. in a neighborhood north of the city centre as people made their way to the aforementioned football game. Upon learning what had happened, the match was suspended at halftime.
"The perpetrator targeted specifically Swedish supporters who were in Brussels to attend a Red Devils soccer match," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, calling it a "brutal terrorist attack."
"Everything suggests this is a terror attack targeted at Sweden and Swedish citizens," the Nordic nation's prime minister Ulf Kristersson added.
Following the murders of two of their citizens, Swedish authorities sent text messages to other Swedes abroad warning them to be extra vigilant, and issued a subsequent travel warning.
Abdesalem can be heard in video footage of the attack claiming to be fighting on behalf of Allah, and later posted a clip to social media echoing those sentiments. While he is believed to have been inspired by ISIS, authorities have not made a connection between him and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Abdesalem was also suspected of human trafficking, according to Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, and was considered a threat to national security. He had been ordered to leave Belgium in March 2021.
Both Sweden and Belgium have been targets of Islamic extremism as of late, with the latter drawing the ire of militants due in large part to its commitment to free speech. Following the burning of Qurans in Sweden, those who see the book as holy have committed actual acts of violence in attempted retribution.
