Brussels, Belgium – The body of a Jewish jeweller killed after his shop in the center of Brussels was robbed by armed Eastern European gangsters will be repatriated to Israel, the Belgian press reported.

Shimshon Haimashvili, 63, who had Israeli citizenship, lived in Antwerp but came daily to work in his Brussels shop located in the so-called Matonge neighborhood, an area known throughout Belgium for its high population of people of African origin, mainly from Congo.

Born in Tbilissi, Georgia, Haimashvili, nicknamed “Simon” or ‘Grandpa” by his neighbours, was also the owner of jewelries in Tel Aviv and Antwerp.

In Antwerp, where he was strongly appreciated by the Jewish community, a religious service in his memory was to be organized this week at the Lange Kievitstraat synagogue.

According to the Belgian news agency, police have arrested the two suspected robbers, one of whom was also injured. A relative of Haimashvili was injured in the robbery.

The shoot-out is likely to spark fresh concerns over security in central Brussels, where European Union employs thousands of foreign staff.

Last month the European Parliament called for extra policing after one MEP was robbed in a park adjacent to the parliament.

(Source: EJP)