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Even the day after the terrorist attack, the shock is still profound. The Swede Kristofer Du Rietz works in Brussels and was at the match between Belgium and Sweden with his children. The match was abandoned at half-time because two Swedes dressed in national team outfits were shot by a terrorist just five kilometers from the King Baudouin Stadium.
Du Rietz was looking forward to a ‘popular festival that brings people together’, as he says. Instead: fear of terrorism.
Evacuation only around midnight
“By the end of the first half, almost everyone knew what had happened – as a Swede it was terrible,” the father said in an interview with “Aftonbladet”. Rumors quickly spread throughout the arena. “It became clear early on that the killer was looking for Sweden,” said Du Rietz.
For safety reasons, the audience had to remain in the stands for several hours. When the evacuation of the location started around midnight, there had been no sporting rivalry for a long time. There was a special gesture from home fans towards the Swedish family. They received Belgian libli and could feel a little safer. “We knew the Swedes were in danger, so we put them on and walked with the children among us,” he says.
Du Rietz, who works for the European Commission, cannot yet think about normality on Tuesday. “The assessment of the terrorist threat has increased and I am working from home today,” he reports. All his colleagues, regardless of nationality, were advised to work from home.
The family is currently in a state of emergency. “The children’s schools are closed and I just heard that there is extra police protection in residential areas where Swedes live.” In addition to the shock, the political advisor also feels anger. “It sucks that we have to hide,” he says.
Abdesalem L. was shot by police officers
It was his daughter’s first stadium experience. “She loves football, she was there with all her school friends. She just wanted to go to a folk festival with her friends, terrible.”
The fact that the attacker was ‘neutralized’ on Tuesday morning should at least give the Du Rietz family a sigh of relief. Both Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (45) and the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor confirmed that the alleged perpetrator Abdesalem L.* († 45) was initially shot by police officers and died shortly afterwards.
*Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
