Due to increased organised crime, the UK government has urged its citizens to ‘remain vigilant’ when travelling to Belgium, an EU destination that is often visited by Brits, especially due to the geographical proximity.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Belgium’s safety has been compromised not only due to organised crime but also threats of terrorism. The authority pointed out that incidents are more common for drug-related crimes, especially in larger cities such as Brussels and Antwerp, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The risk mostly affects those involved in drug crime, but remain vigilant if you suspect illegal activity. Follow the advice of local authorities. There have been reports of truck and van drivers being approached at parking lots or service stations by organised crime groups and asked to smuggle products to the UK (‘window tapping’).
Terrorism Acts ‘Very Likely’ in Belgium, FCDO Warns
The Foreign Office warns that terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in Belgium. Thus, Brits should be vigilant in public spaces and carefully follow the advice of local authorities.
The latest terrorist act recorded in Brussels left two Swedish nationals dead in October 2023, when a 45-year-old shot these two people, who had come to Brussels to watch their national teams during a football match with Belgium.
There is a high threat of terrorist attacks globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.
The authorities advise travellers to call 101 if they notice anything unusual and report it to the local authorities. By doing so, British nationals posed with a dangerous situation or who witnessed someone being threatened could contact the authorities.
Previous incidents in Brussels have included fatal attacks against civilians and law enforcement, with the last two cases being recorded in the last two years.
More specifically, in 2022, a police officer was killed and another injured in an alleged terrorist incident in Brussels, while in 2018, two police officers and a passer-by were killed in a shooting in the city of Liège in a suspected terrorist incident.
According to Europol’s annual EU terrorism situation and trend reports, a total of 1,871 terrorist attacks were recorded in the EU and UK between 2010 and 2021. The majority of these attacks were related to ethno-nationalism and separatism, accounting for 56 per cent of all incidents during this period.
