You've probably heard we (and by "we", I mean Belgium) made the international news. A lone gunman left home yesterday morning with hand grenades, a pistol and a rifle. But first, he put a bullet in the head of his neighbor's cleaning lady, age 45.
He proceeded to the busiest square, Place Saint Lambert, in the city of Liége, threw 3 hand grenades and opened fire on a huge crowd killing 3 more people. Dead are 2 teens and a toddler, shot in the head. About 125 more are injured - 5 in intensive care.
Photo - Telegraph UK
The Christmas market that is held each year in Place Saint Lambert was delayed in opening yesterday because of bad weather. Otherwise it is likely more people would have been killed or injured. The rampage ended when the shooter put a bullet in his own head.
Liége is a city about a half hour south of Hasselt (where we live). It lies in the French-speaking part of Belgium and has a population of nearly 200,000.
The shooter was 33 years old. He was in the crowded square on this day because that's where the Palais de Justice (courthouse) is and because he was summoned for questioning by the police about charges he was facing. He apparently did jail time for firearms and drugs so this isn't his first brush with the law. Only his last.
As you may know, gun ownership in Belgium is very restrictive compared to many countries, including the U.S., and gun homicide rates are also very low in most all of Europe. So, having said that, the incident in Liége is quite rare.
There are many questions to be answered . . . with a criminal record, he is not allowed to own or possess a gun. How did he get the rifle, pistol and hand grenades? Where does anyone get a grenade?! I look forward to hearing the outcome of the investigation while realizing something like this really can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Wow! I did not hear about this. So tragic.
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