The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said the shooting at the Jewish museum in Brussels, in which four people died, was ‘’deeply shocking.’’
‘’It is too early to comment on the motive of this heinous attack. Nevertheless, my thoughts and condolences go to the families of the victims first of all and more widely to the Jewish community and the Belgian people,’’ he said.
‘’This was a brutal attack at a place of religion and memory. It is deeply saddening and tragic that innocent people have been murdered at a Jewish museum,’’ Schulz added.
‘’I am confident that the Belgian authorities will fully investigate this tragic crime at the Jewish museum and find out who the perpetrators are, they must face justice.’’
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned ‘’unreservedly’’ the dreadful attack and sent her condolences to the families of the victims. ‘’I express my solidarity with the Belgian authorities and the Jewish community.’’
‘’Everything possible must be done to find those who carried out this attack. There must be no impunity for terrorism,’’ she concluded in her statement.
The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso condemned "this terrible act" in the heart of the European capital, saying: "This was an attack at European values which we cannot tolerate."
The bloody attack took place on the eve of European elections which are expected to see the rise of extreme-right, populist and racist parties in several EU countries.