Police officers have been searching for a gunman at the scene of a shooting in Brussels (Picture: EPA)
Four people have been injured in a shooting on a major shopping street in central Brussels and the gunman is still on the run.
The attacker opened fire on Friday night on Avenue de la Toison d’Or, a busy street with shops near a covered passageway with upscale fashion boutiques.
Among those hurt in the attack is a European Parliament assistant who works for a Swedish MEP in the European People’s Party, according to MailOnline.
One of the victims was shot near the mall, another was discovered outside an Apple store and a third was discovered on a nearby high street in the Belgian capital.
At least one of those wounded is in a critical condition.
The assailants fled the scene by the time police arrived shortly after 7.30pm local time, police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere said.
‘At this point, there is nothing to make us think it was a terrorist act,’ she added.
Belgian police officers keep guard outside the area in Brussels (Picture: Reuters)
Police have cordoned off the area after the attack (Picture: Reuters)
Eyewitness Alain Gagnaire told French-speaking newspaper Le Soir: ‘In the middle of Avenue de la Toison d’Or, a man came with a gun.
‘He fired several times, followed by a panic with around 20 people coming to take refuge in the Gallery, including a woman injured in the right leg, a tourist.
‘I called the cops and they arrived in force with the firefighters.’
Swedish MEP Tomas Tobé confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that one of his staff was shot.
Armed police descended on the shopping area after four people were injured in a shooting (Picture: EPA)
He said: ‘One of our employees has been injured in a shooting in Brussels. Terrible.
‘The person in question is receiving care at the moment, the situation is not considered to be critical. Relatives of the person are notified.’
Police evacuated the shopping passageway after the incident and no arrests have yet been made.
Earlier this week, a 42-year-old mum in London was shot dead in a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
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