Flowers and tributes have been left outside a makeshift shrine in front of the Jewish museum[GETTY]They said the attack in which an Israeli couple, a French woman and a Belgian museum worker were gunned down had the hallmarks of an execution.
As Belgian police continued their inquiry into Saturday’s attack, terror experts cast doubt on the theory that the perpetrator was an anti-Semitic “lone wolf”.
Edwin Bakker, professor at the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, said the killer looked experienced.
Mr Bakker said the terrorism theory was also undermined by the fact that no group had claimed responsibility.
He said: “People use the word terrorism very quickly but when I saw the images I thought this is a hitman.”
Images taken at the museum show the gunman approaching the building, opening fire with an AK47, and walking away.
Photographs and video released by Belgian police show the man wearing a cap and blue shirt, carrying two bags over his shoulder.
The images do not show his face clearly.
The gunman disappeared after heading off on foot.
Ine Van Wymersch, a spokeswoman for prosecutors in the Belgian capital, would not speculate on the motive last night.
People use the word terrorism very quickly but when I saw the images I thought this is a hitman
But she said: “The footage shows an individual who acts in cold blood and is very determined.
"The identity and nationality of the victims is an additional reason to hand the case to the federal level.”
But Robert Ayers, a former US intelligence officer, said: “I don’t think a professional hitman would have done it this way.
“It was a guy who was deranged, who had been planning on doing something like this and did it.”
Police named the Israeli couple as Emmanuel and Miriam Riva, aged 54 and 53.
They were reported to have two daughters, aged 17 and 15. Both had worked for Nativ, a government agency which fostered Jewish migration out of the former Soviet Union.
Jewish sites in Belgium have been put under increased protection following the shootings.
David Cameron was among those to express outrage as he promised his Belgian counterpart Elio Di Rupo any help he can to stamp out bigotry.
The Prime Minister wrote in a message of support: “I was appalled to hear of the shootings at the Jewish Museum yesterday.
“We join you in condemning this dreadful attack and will work with you to confront such bigotry across Europe.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims,” he added.
Pope Francis, who was in Israel, said he had a “heavy heart” after the “atrocious” attack.
He added: “While reiterating my condemnation for this criminal act of anti-Semitic hatred, I entrust the victims of this crime to the God of mercy and invoke upon the wounded his gift of healing.”
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