Rush-hour panic as gunshot fired at Gare du Midi

Commuters at the Gare du Midi in Brussels panicked and rushed for the exits after a gunshot was fired during Wednesday's evening rush hour.

The Brussels prosecutor's office initially said that firecrackers had been let off at about 17.00 on the station concourse - but after viewing CCTV footage it was confirmed that a suspect had fired a shot at the ground before running away.

RTL reports that the incident was linked to a dispute between four people - one of whom pulled out a gun. No one was injured. "Everyone was running around," an eyewitness told the broadcaster.

A prosecutor's spokesperson said: "It seems that a feud between two families was behind the incident. The suspect is still actively being sought. The weapon has been found." The suspect faces charges of "threatening gestures and carrying a prohibited firearm".

A security perimeter was set up to allow forensics experts to examine the scene. Interior minister Jan Jambon said the gunman had been identified but not yet arrested.

An Infrabel spokesman said the incident was "managed well" by the emergency services. Police were on the scene for about two hours and rail services were disrupted on the main north-south rail artery through the capital.

Photo: Jelle Mampaey/Belga