Jurgen de Landsheer

“There is no magic solution. We need prevention over repression. We can do our part and be present in the street, but our society also needs to give a future to the young people, do something with them. That's the social part.”

Jurgen de Landsheer · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28

De Landsheer acknowledges that police alone cannot solve the crisis and calls for prevention and social support.

“The biggest danger is a stray bullet.”

Jurgen de Landsheer · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28

De Landsheer warns of the danger posed to the community by gang violence.

“We see a lot of young people getting paid a few hundred euros. They get a weapon, AK-47 or other heavy weapon, and then they get a mission. To shoot a person in the leg, for example, or to try to kill somebody. And they get very little money for this.”

Jurgen de Landsheer · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28

De Landsheer describes how young people are recruited by gangs for shooting missions.

“We don't have no-go zones here in Brussels. It's not easy to go in some neighbourhoods, but we go everywhere. We don't want to become like some neighbourhoods in Marseille, so we'll do everything to stop it.”

Jurgen de Landsheer · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-28

De Landsheer insists Brussels has not reached the same level of violence as Marseille.