Football fans at Wembley boo over minute’s silence for victims of Brussels and Israel – after police presence ramped up at England’s Euro 2024 qualifier match against Italy
- Police issue reassurance to fans following violence in Brussels that killed two
- READ MORE: Belgian cops shoot ‘ISIS fanatic’ suspect dead in Brussels manhunt
Match stewards and police have swarmed around Wembley stadium this evening in the wake of the Belgium terror attack that killed two people.
Security has been ramped up ahead of tonight’s Euro 2024 qualifying match between England and Italy at the stadium in north west London, with the authorities taking no chances after the horrific scenes in Brussels last night which culminated with the Sweden-Belgium match being abandoned.
The Metropolitan Police said it would have a ‘highly visible presence’ and there was a ‘robust’ plan in place to keep spectators safe, with officers seen at the stadium as early as 2pm today.
Police officers were seen walking the streets between the arena and Wembley Park tube station, while security guards took up positions both inside and outside the stadium before the match which kicked off at 7.45pm.
The moments before the match were marred as some fans booed a minute’s silence for the victim’s of terror attacks in Brussels and Israel, with jeers ringing out as England and Italy players stood in the centre circle to pay their respects.
UEFA had ordered that a ‘moment of silence be observed’ before all its Euro 2024 qualifying matches tonight ‘in memory of all the members of the European football family killed in recent days in Europe and Israel’.
There were boos during the minute’s silence for victims of the terrorist attacks in Brussels and Israel at Wembley tonight
Players from England and Italy stand at the centre circle in Wembley for the moment’s silence tonight
UEFA had ordered a moment’s silence to be carried out before tonight’s match
Police officers were seen walking in the streets around Wembley Stadium today as they looked to reassure spectators after last night’s terror attack in Brussels
Security guards have been stationed at choke points outside the stadium as safety precautions are ramped up
A group of police officers cycle down Olympic Way towards Wembley Stadium in the hours before the match
The Wembley arch was lit up light blue as fans made their way into the stadium this evening
Thousands of fans walk towards Wembley stadium for tonight’s match between England and Italy
Police officers from the British Transport Police are patrolling Wembley Stadium ahead of tonight’s England-Italy Euro 2024 qualifier
The Metropolitan Police says football fans should expect an increased presence at Wembley tonight (pictured: BTP officers outside the stadium on Tuesday)
Officers from the Metropolitan Police at the England v Australia international friendly at Wembley last week. The Met says fans should expect a robust presence tonight
Police officers walk towards Wembley Stadium among fans ahead of tonight’s match between England and Italy
Security guards stand on the steps leading up to Wembley Stadium amid increased policing before tonight’s match
Police officers wearing fluorescent yellow jackets walk down Olympic Way in Wembley this evening
Police at the scene of the Brussels shootings on Monday night, when suspected gunman Abdesalem Lassoued was still on the run
Video shows Abdesalem Lassoued dressed in a fluorescent orange jacket and carrying a gun driving through the streets of Brussels last night
A statement issued by the Met Police ahead of tonight’s game reads: ‘Given the events yesterday in Brussels, those attending the match can be reassured that they will see a highly visible policing presence.
‘Officers are there to ensure the event passes off safely and provide reassurance to those attending.’
READ MORE: How Brussels became the terror capital of Europe: As another ISIS fanatic brings carnage to Belgium, how migrant ghettos turned into a breeding ground for fanaticism that has sparked some of Europe’s worst atrocities
Superintendent Gerry Parker, match commander for tonight’s game, said: ‘We have been working with our partners, including the FA, in the weeks leading up to this match to ensure those attending the Wembley area enjoy this match.
‘Our officers are experienced in dealing with large-scale public order events, and a flexible plan is in place to reduce the likelihood of crime and disorder, and provide a timely response to any emerging incidents.
‘Please ensure you arrive in good time for the match and remain vigilant throughout; if you see anything suspicious then flag it an officer or one of the match stewards immediately so the necessary action can be taken.’
Police have also been seen in the centre of Lille in northern France ahead of an international friendly between France and Scotland at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Officers from the municipal police for the city were seen in central town square as Scots fans in kilts were seen ambling around ahead of the match, which kicked off at 8pm.
Terror suspect Abdesalem Lassoued is believed to have been the man responsible for a rampage in Brussels last night where a man carrying an assault rifle and riding a motorised scooter killed two people. The 45-year-old, who claimed to be a supporter of ISIS, was later cornered and shot dead by police.
The King Baudouin stadium in Brussels was locked down on Monday after reports emerged of Lassoued, thought to be an ISIS fanatic, riding around the city on a moped armed with a rifle.
The 45-year-old opened fire on a group of Swedish football fans in a taxi last night as they passed through Boulevard d’Ypres at around 7pm, a short distance north of the city’s famous Grand Plaza ahead of Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden.
Several people fled into an apartment building after hearing the gunshots, but Lassoued followed them and opened fire again in the entrance hall in an attack he said was to avenge the killing of a six-year-old US-Palestinian boy.
Wadea Al-Fayoume, six, was allegedly stabbed to death by Illinois landlord Joseph Czuba on Saturday in an attack that left his mother Hanaan Shahin seriously wounded. Czuba appeared in court on Monday on murder charges.
Following the incident the alleged attacker used the name ‘Slayem Slouma’ to boast about the two murders on Facebook, adding he sought to avenge the killing of a six-year-old US-Palestinian boy.
Speaking in Arabic in the video, Lassoued celebrated the slaughter, and said he ‘was inspired by the Islamic State’ terror group, prosecutors said.
According to a media transcript of the video message recorded by the self-declared perpetrator, he said: ‘I am a fighter for Allah. I am from the Islamic State. We love who loves us and we hate who hates us.
‘We live for our religion and we die for our religion. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God). Your brother took revenge in the name of Muslims. I have killed three Swedes so far, alhamdulillah.
‘Three Swedish, yes. Those to whom I have done something wrong, may they forgive me. And I forgive everyone. Salam Aleykoum (peace be upon you).’
Many Sweden fans at King Baudouin Stadium were tearful and clung to each other for support, while others checked their mobile phones for the latest information
Members of Lille’s municipal police are seen in the centre of Lille ahead of tonight’s friendly between Scotland and France
Officers are out in force in both England and France ahead of tonight’s international football games, following the terror attack in Belgium on Monday
Belgium fans could be seen hugging inside the King Baudouin stadium as news emerged of the tragedy unfolding outside. The match was called off in a mutual agreement between both sides after learning of the news at half-time
Fans were eventually allowed to leave the stadium in the early hours of Tuesday morning after police secured the scene
Belgian police in forensic overalls lay down markers at the scene of a shooting in Brussels that killed two on Monday
Police secured the area around the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on Monday night as fans were set to be evacuated
READ MORE: Fury as BBC calls Brussels shooting a ‘terror attack’ despite refusing to brand Hamas killers ‘terrorists’ – as hundreds protest outside Broadcasting House to demand corporation changes its policy
Heartbreaking images showed Belgian and Swedish footballers hugging as they remained inside the stadium until sometime after midnight on Tuesday morning, when they were finally given the go-ahead to leave.
Amid the distressing scenes, UEFA issued a statement confirming that the match had been postponed at half-time. Sweden fans were told to stay inside the stadium for their own safety.
Players from both teams, who heard the news during the break, concluded that the game should be suspended; at the time of the decision, the match was tied on 1-1.
After the game, Sweden coach Janne Andersson confirmed they were told about the incident at half-time.
In remarks reported by Sky Sports News, he said: ‘Everyone was very sad and all the players agreed not to continue with the match.’
Manchester United and Sweden defender Victor Lindelof added: ‘We discussed the remainder of the match with the team and the Belgians.
‘The conclusion was not to play anymore. The most important thing is that the supporters are safe now.’
Swedish football fans told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday that they had been instructed to stay inside for their own safety until it was time to leave.
Susanne Petersson, chairperson of supporters’ group Camp Sweden, told the agency: ‘Most are going home during the day today. We have been instructed to stay in and not to go out, most are at their hotels until it’s time to go home.’
Video footage of the attack posted on the Het Laatste Nieuws newspaper website showed a man in an orange jacket on a scooter at a street intersection with a rifle first firing five shots, then following people fleeing into a building before firing again.
A witness who identified himself as Souleymane said: ‘I saw the assailant enter the building and shoot twice towards the man – the man fell to the ground. I saw him fall because I was just nearby.
‘I stayed there, I was frozen, I couldn’t move. I’m still shivering because of what happened.’
Armed police eventually cornered Lassoued inside a café in the Schaerbeek neighbourhood at 8am on Tuesday, shooting him in the chest.
Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (second from left) vowed that terrorists would ‘never achieve their goals’ following the fatalities. He is pictured with interior minister Annelies Verlinden (left), justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (second from right) and federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw (right)
Forensic police officers gather in the street in the Schaerbeek area of Brussels where suspected gunman Abdesalem Lassoued was shot dead on Tuesday
Flowers are left at the scene of one of Lassoued’s attacks in Brussels on Monday night
A bullet impact scars the window of a building after the shooting in Brussels on Monday night
Police guard privacy cordons put up at the scene where armed officers shot suspect Abdesalem Lassoued dead on Tuesday morning in Schaerbeek, Brussels
Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden later confirmed Lassoued had been shot and killed by police during his arrest today.
‘The perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Brussels has been identified and has died,’ Verlinden said.
Prime Minister Alexander de Croo earlier said the suspect was of Tunisian origin who had been living in the country illegally before launching what he called a brutal terrorist attack.
de Croo told a news conference on Tuesday: ‘The terrorist attack that happened yesterday was committed with total cowardice, the attacker chose as a target two Swedish football fans.
‘Terrorism strikes indiscriminately. It aims to sow fear, mistrust and division in our free societies. Terrorists must know that they will never achieve their goals.
‘They will never make us bend. Their hatred and violence only prove their powerlessness.’
Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborn said the failed asylum-seeker had been convicted of ‘common law offences’ in Tunisia, but denied he was listed as a known terrorist threat.
Prosecutors said the attacker in his video had indicated the Swedish nationality of his victims was a motivation, and there appeared to be no links with the emotion triggered by the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
Belgium had already been the target of an attack claimed by IS extremists in March 2016, at Brussels’ main airport and on the metro system, which killed 32 people.
The European Commission, which is based in Brussels, has urged staff to work from home on Tuesday, while schools were closed.
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