Man shot dead in Brussels after attacking soldiers with a knife while screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’
Brussels mayor said the alert status, already just one off the maximum level, had not been increased
Belgian soldiers shot dead a man in the centre of Brussels on Friday evening after he came at them with a knife shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), in a case authorities are treating as a terrorist attack.
The man, a 30-year-old Belgian of Somali origin, died after being rushed to hospital.
Federal prosecutor spokeswoman Esther Natus said “the suspect is dead” in the clash Friday night and one soldier was “slightly injured.”
The soldiers were not seriously hurt in the attack; one had a facial wound and the other’s hand was wounded.
“A man armed with a knife attacked a group of soldiers. The soldiers fired at him and neutralised the individual,” said Belgian Federal Police spokesman, Jonathan Pfunde.