A policeman was killed and another injured in a knife attack in Brussels (Belgium) on Thursday, November 10, the public prosecutor’s office in the Belgian capital announced to the Belga press agency. The two police officers were taken to hospital. One of them later succumbed to his injuries. The suspect, hit by a return fire, was arrested and hospitalized.
>> Follow live the latest information on the knife attack in Brussels
One of the patrols was attacked by a man armed with a knife in Schaerbeek, a district north of the city, Brussels-North police said. “They then called for reinforcements. A patrol inspector who came as reinforcements used his firearm to neutralize the aggressor”, reports the Belga agency quoted by the Belgian site RTL Info.
“A perimeter has been established and several investigative duties have been ordered to determine exactly what happened”, said Sarah Durant, spokesperson for the Brussels public prosecutor’s office. A little later in the evening, theThe Belgian federal prosecutor’s office has been seized. “We took over the file, because there is a suspicion of terrorist motive, which will of course have to be confirmed or invalidated by the investigation”spokesman Eric Van Duyse said.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo reacted to Twitter : “Our police officers risk their lives on a daily basis to ensure the safety of our citizens. Today’s tragedy demonstrates this, once again. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased officer. My sincere hope is that his hospitalized colleague will be fine”he wrote.
Our police officers risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of our citizens. Today’s drama demonstrates this once again.
My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased officer.
My sincere hope is that his hospitalized colleague will be well.
—Alexander De Croo (@alexanderdecroo) November 10, 2022