A police officer has died after an attack in the Belgian capital Brussels. Another police officer was injured with a knife in the attack, the Belga news agency reported on Thursday evening.
Several media reported that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great). According to Belga, the public prosecutor could not confirm or deny this at this time. The officers who were attacked called for backup. A police officer who came to the rescue used his service weapon against the attacker.
The prosecutor told the German news agency DPA that a terrorist background could not be confirmed or ruled out. As Belga further reported, the attacked officials had called for reinforcements. A police officer who came to the rescue used his service weapon against the attacker. According to various media reports, the attacker was hit by several shots. According to the public prosecutor, the attacker was injured in the evening, but not killed. It was initially unclear whether he needed hospital treatment.
Jihadists and Salafists often use the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” as a kind of battle cry. In fact, it is a central religious formula of Islam that has been used by Muslims worldwide for centuries. “My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased official,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wrote on Twitter in the evening. He hopes the hospitalized officer is doing well. (SDA/chs)