Sweden players take overnight flight home and return to clubs after shooting in Belgium

Euro 2024 qualifier was abandoned at half-time and the stadium locked down for two-and-a-half hours for security reasons

A police officer stands guard outside the King Baudouin Stadium following the Euro 2024 qualifying football match between Belgium and Sweden in Brussels on October 16, 2023, after two Swedes were shot dead in an attack in Brussels. Belgium's Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden was abandoned at half-time and fans were kept in the stadium for security reasons after two Swedes were shot dead in an attack in Brussels on October 16, 2023. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)

People walk outside King Baudouin Stadium after play was suspended following the shooting. Reuters

Swedish players Samuel Gustafson and Emil Holm wait to leave the stadium. Reuters

The score was 1-1 at half-time when the decision was taken to suspend the game. AFP

Fans were told to stay in the stadium until it was safe to leave amid reports that the victims were wearing Swedish football shirts. AFP

Swedish fans react at half-time as the match against Belgium is abandoned. Getty Images

Police officers stand guard as supporters leave. AFP

Belgium football player Romelu Lukaku leaves the stadium. Reuters

The 35,000 supporters were eventually allowed to leave in groups shortly after midnight local time. AFP

Belgian midfielder Jeremy Doku, second from left, leaves. AFP

Supporters look through the fence as they wait to leave. AP

A supporter is comforted on the stands after the match was suspended. AP

Sweden players were returning to their clubs on Tuesday after taking an overnight flight home from Brussels following the suspension of their Euro 2024 qualifier against Belgium because a gunman killed two Swedish nationals before kickoff.

It remained unclear on Tuesday whether the match would be completed at a later date. European football governing body Uefa said it was too early to make any decision and that “further communication will be made in due course.”

Belgium and Austria have qualified from Group F for the tournament to be held in Germany next year but both teams can still win the group.

The squad went directly to the airport and flew back to Sweden once they were allowed to leave King Baudouin Stadium, which was locked down for two-and-a-half hours for security reasons before officials began an evacuation process around midnight local time.

It was around 4am local time when the last of the Swedish supporters – totaling about 650, according to the Swedish Football Association – left the stadium under police surveillance, along with some staff from the federation.

All hotels where Swedish supporters were staying were also guarded by police, the federation said.

The Swedish FA confirmed to the Associated Press that the national team players were now making their way back to their clubs.

The suspect in the shooting was shot dead by police on Tuesday, Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said, and the weapon believed to have been used by the man has been recovered.

Swedish FA officials said information about the shooting incident, which also led to another Swedish national getting seriously injured and taken to hospital, reached them just before the match began and that Belgian authorities and police considered the game should be played because the stadium was viewed as the safest place for Swedish fans.

A decision was made to halt the match at halftime.

Martin Fredman, the federation’s head of security, said about 400 Swedish fans “received help during the evening and night".

“The cooperation between supporters, federations and authorities has worked very well in an extremely stressful situation,” Fredman said.

More than two hours after the game was suspended, a message flashed on the big stadium screen saying, “Fans, you can leave the stadium calmly.” Stand after stand emptied onto streets filled with police as the search for the attacker continued.

“Frustrated, confused, scared. I think everyone was quite scared,” said Caroline Lochs, a fan from Antwerp.

Brussels mayor Philippe Close told La Premiere radio that the game had not been regarded as a high-risk match.