Belgian Police patrol the Grand Place in central Brussels following the shooting of two Swedish football fans who were shot by a suspected Tunisian extremist on Monday night. AP
Belgian Police patrol the Grand Place in central Brussels following the shooting of two Swedish football fans who were shot by a suspected Tunisian extremist on Monday night. AP
Belgian Police patrol the Grand Place in central Brussels following the shooting of two Swedish football fans who were shot by a suspected Tunisian extremist on Monday night. AP
Belgian Police patrol the Grand Place in central Brussels following the shooting of two Swedish football fans who were shot by a suspected Tunisian extremist on Monday night. AP

Belgium gunman ’fought over sweets’ with baker


Sunniva Rose
  • English
  • Arabic

The main suspect behind the murder of two Swedish football fans in a taxi in Brussels on Monday got into a fight with his local bakery over whether the sweets on sale were permissible to eat in Islamic law.

“He was a bit strange but did not appear to be an extremist,” said baker Rachid El Hamli, who has owned a popular bakery in Schaerbeek for the past 43 years.

Last year, the two men quarrelled after Abdelsalam Lassoued, 45, walked into the shop one day berating its owner for not selling properly vetted halal sweets, according to Mr El Hamli.

After the incident, Lassoued would wait outside as his daughter bought bread, said the baker, who remembers that he would continue to say hello, albeit more coldly than before.

“Both were polite and smiling,” said Mr El Hamli.

“I am utterly shocked by what happened.”

Lassoued has been described as a “lone wolf” by local authorities who also deemed the murders to be terrorist acts. In a video widely shared on social media after the attacks, he says he was inspired by ISIS.

“Everybody says that he's a madman. He must have been brainwashed,” said Ben, a client at the bakery.

“We are shocked and disgusted,” said Mohamed, a volunteer at the Ahl Allah mosque, which the suspect occasionally visited.

The attacks committed by Lassoued, who was shot by police early on Tuesday morning a little more than 1km away from his family home in the neighbourhood of Schaerbeek, have led to an outpouring of grief both in Sweden and Belgium.

In Belgium, sadness was mixed with anger as local authorities came under attack for not having expelled Lassoued despite police having multiple reports about his extremist views in the past years. He was also able to stay in the country after his asylum application was rejected in 2020.

Bernard Clerfayt, a minister of the Brussels government responsible for employment, criticised the immigration office for its “failings in registering asylum seekers, in transfer to local authorities and in monitoring dangerous people”.

Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said on Tuesday that he believed that Lassoued had targeted Swedes due to recent controversies caused by Quran burnings. But Lassoued has also been reported to have written about the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas on his Facebook page shortly before the shootings.

“He mixed everything up, Palestine and Sweden. We don't understand. And it has nothing to do with religion,” said Ben, who, like most people interviewed by The National, declined to give his full name due to the sensitivity of the subject. “We're in shock. We don't know what to say.”

Mr de Croo also said that “conclusions must be drawn” about his prolonged illegal stay in Belgium and that orders of return to the country of origin needed to become “more binding.” The threat level for Brussels was reduced on Tuesday to level 3 from level 4, although the threat level for the country as a whole was kept at 3 – the second-highest level.

At the Ahl Allah mosque, there was also a general feeling of weariness when discussing Lassoued's actions.

The neighbourhood of Schaerbeek had previously hit headlines after previous terror attacks, including the ISIS-claimed double suicide bombing in Brussels in March 2016 which killed 35 people and wounded hundreds.

“Put yourself in our shoes,” said Mohamed, the volunteer. “People do monstrous things and we have to explain ourselves.”

Rachid el Hamli, owner of a bakery in Schaerbeek, Brussels. Sunniva Rosa / The National
Rachid el Hamli, owner of a bakery in Schaerbeek, Brussels. Sunniva Rosa / The National

Mohamed said that Lassoued was a discreet presence at the mosque, which first opened in the neighbourhood in 1969. He did not appear in the list of regular attendees who contribute a small amount every month for its upkeep. Many remember the alleged killer as only speaking Arabic and not mingling much with other participants.

“People just pray and leave. We are very keen to avoid gatherings,” said Abdelmajid, another volunteer at the mosque who stopped seeing him around four months ago, before the summer break. But he had no explanation for his absence.

“I have no idea what went on in his head.”

The public prosecutor's office has said that it cannot exclude a link between the attacks and the conflict in the Middle East. The investigation is expected to shed more light on the motivations of Lassoued, whose wife was interrogated by police on Tuesday.

Speaking under the pseudonym of Yasmina, she told local media that she fled her home to the local police station when she saw her husband's video claiming responsibility for the attack fearing that he would return home.

“I can barely speak about what he did. I don't have the courage,” she said.

  • Police seal off an area in Schaerbeek near Brussels. A suspected gunman who allegedly shot dead two Swedish football fans in Belgium in what authorities said was a terrorist attack was then shot dead by police. Reuters
    Police seal off an area in Schaerbeek near Brussels. A suspected gunman who allegedly shot dead two Swedish football fans in Belgium in what authorities said was a terrorist attack was then shot dead by police. Reuters
  • A woman lays flowers in front of a sign which reads 'courage to the Swedish people' near the scene of the fatal shooting in Brussels. AP
    A woman lays flowers in front of a sign which reads 'courage to the Swedish people' near the scene of the fatal shooting in Brussels. AP
  • A bullet shattered glass on this office building in Brussels. AP
    A bullet shattered glass on this office building in Brussels. AP
  • Forensics officers search for evidence in the street. AFP
    Forensics officers search for evidence in the street. AFP
  • Police officers enter a building in Schaerbeek. Reuters
    Police officers enter a building in Schaerbeek. Reuters
  • Police in the area where the shooting took place in the centre of Brussels. AP
    Police in the area where the shooting took place in the centre of Brussels. AP
  • A police officer stand guards outside the King Baudouin Stadium, where Belgium v Sweden was abandoned at half-time once news of the fatal shooting had filtered through. AFP
    A police officer stand guards outside the King Baudouin Stadium, where Belgium v Sweden was abandoned at half-time once news of the fatal shooting had filtered through. AFP
  • A view of the crime scene in the aftermath of the shooting. AFP
    A view of the crime scene in the aftermath of the shooting. AFP
  • Police officers stand guard as supporters leave the stadium. AFP
    Police officers stand guard as supporters leave the stadium. AFP
  • Swedish supporters in the stands are distraught when they hear of the shooting. AFP
    Swedish supporters in the stands are distraught when they hear of the shooting. AFP
  • Police forces secure the area. EPA
    Police forces secure the area. EPA
  • Police and forensics officers work at the scene. EPA
    Police and forensics officers work at the scene. EPA
Results:

Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Jawan
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The lowdown

Rating: 4/5

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says. 

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier. 

Brown/Black belt finals

3pm: 49kg female: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) v Thamires Aquino (BRA)
3.07pm: 56kg male: Hiago George (BRA) v Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA)
3.14pm: 55kg female: Amal Amjahid (BEL) v Bianca Basilio (BRA)
3.21pm: 62kg male: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) v Joao Miyao (BRA)
3.28pm: 62kg female: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR)
3.35pm: 69kg male: Isaac Doederlein (BRA) v Paulo Miyao (BRA)
3.42pm: 70kg female: Thamara Silva (BRA) v Alessandra Moss (AUS)
3.49pm: 77kg male: Oliver Lovell (GBR) v Tommy Langarkar (NOR)
3.56pm: 85kg male: Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE) v Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA)
4.03pm: 90kg female: Claire-France Thevenon (FRA) v Gabreili Passanha (BRA)
4.10pm: 94kg male: Adam Wardzinski (POL) v Kaynan Duarte (BRA)
4.17pm: 110kg male: Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE) v Joao Rocha (BRA

Updated: October 19, 2023, 6:55 AM