Two Swedish nationals are dead and another person has been wounded in a shooting attack in Brussels, the spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor has told reporters, adding the suspect had not yet been arrested.
"Go home and stay at home as long as the threat has not been eradicated," spokesman Eric van Duyse said, adding that the attacker claimed to be inspired by Islamic State.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo confirmed on social media platform X that the victims were Swedish.
"I have just offered my sincere condolences to the Swedish PM following tonight's harrowing attack on Swedish citizens in Brussels," Mr de Croo said.
"Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. As close partners the fight against terrorism is a joint one," he said.
Belgium has raised its terror alert to its highest level following the attack.
One Belgian newspaper said it was likely that the victims were two soccer supporters. Belgium's Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden was abandoned at half-time following the attacks.
Sweden's justice minister Gunnar Strommer described the news as "terrible".
He told Reuters: "Tonight we have received terrible news from Brussels. The government office and relevant authorities are working intensively to get more information about what happened."
The Swedish government was in contact with Belgian authorities to seek more information, he added.
A Belgian police spokesperson confirmed that two people had been killed in a shooting incident near the centre of the Belgian capital but declined to give further details.
A spokesperson for Brussels prosecutors, who are handling the case, also declined to give any details concerning the victims or any possible motive.
One Belgium newspaper said a witness said the shooter, who is believed to be on the run, shouted "Allahu Akbar" before the shots were fired.
The alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket fled the scene after using an automatic rifle, according to a video shared by Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws.
A video claiming responsibility for the shooting was circulating on social media, in which a man speaks Arabic, a source close to the case said.
A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said that an investigation had been opened but did not speculate on the gunman's motive.
The federal prosecutor in charge of terrorism cases was probing whether there was any possible terrorist motivation for the attack.
The shooting took place in the capital's northern districts. Police had been alerted to the incident after 7pm local time.
Police cordoned off the area where the shooting occurred.
