The Belgian anti-terrorist authority is investigating the knife attack as a possible act of terrorism.
Two police officers have been stabbed in a knife attack in Brussels, Belgium, local authorities say. Another policeman died of his injuries. Another police officer is wounded and hospitalized, reports AP news agency.
According to local media reports, the police shot the suspected attacker in the legs and lower abdomen. The attacker has been hospitalized, but there is no more detailed information on his condition at the moment.
– The police patrol was attacked by a man armed with a knife. The police then called for backup. The police who came to the scene stopped the attacker with their firearm, informs the Belgian police.
The attack happened near the Gare du Nord train station on Thursday evening a little after seven o’clock local time.
The authorities are investigating the knife attack as a possible act of terrorism
According to the news agency AFP, the authorities suspect the attack to be a terrorist act. Later, the prosecutor’s office announced that the investigation of the case has been transferred to the responsibility of the Belgian anti-terrorist unit.
– We took the lead in investigating the case, because there is reason to suspect a terrorist motive. Investigators will confirm or refute this suspicion, the spokesperson of the unit Eric Van Duyse says.
Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo has published on Twitter his condolences to the relatives of the policeman who died in the attack.
– Police officers risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of civilians. Today’s tragedy proves it once again, says De Croo in his Twitter message.