Crime & Justice

Belgian police officer dies in stabbing

Brussels, Nov 10 (EFE).- One police officer is dead and another wounded after a knife attack Thursday night in this capital, Belgian authorities said.

The male attacker is in custody at a Brussels hospital after being shot, Le Soir newspaper said.

While media outlets said that the assailant shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is great” in Arabic), the prosecutor’s office declined to comment amid suspicion that the assault was terrorism-related.

The man attacked the two officers around 7:15 pm near the Brussels North train station in the capital’s Schaerbeek district. A third officer who responded to their call for assistance “neutralized” the suspect.

Both officers and the suspect were rushed to a hospital, where one of the police died of a knife wound in the neck.

“Our police officers risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of our citizens. Today’s drama demonstrates this once again,” Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Twitter. “My sincere hope is that his hospitalized colleague will be well.”

Citing unnamed sources, Le Soir reported that the suspect showed up at a police station earlier Thursday and stated his intention to attack police.

The suspect agreed to accompany officers and a magistrate to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and was subsequently released, according to the newspaper’s account. EFE cat/dr

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