LIEGE: Belgian police have been Wednesday investigating how a gunman on their own watchlist for contacts with Islamist extremists came to release a brazen suspected terror assault, shooting lifeless two feminine officers with their own guns prior to killing a bystander.
The bloodshed in the eastern industrial city of Liege began round 10.30am (0830 GMT) Tuesday when the attacker armed with a knife repeatedly stabbed the 2 policewomen prior to the usage of their own firearms to kill them.
Federal prosecutors said they had launched a terror investigation into the incident and would hang a press convention later Wednesday.
"The signs are pointing towards a terrorist act," prosecutor spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP.
Amateur photos picked up via AFP showed the gunman shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") as he walked through the streets during the rampage.
In another video, a short and intense burst of gunfire is audible, and then the person lies at the flooring.
"Armed with a knife, the suspect followed and attacked two police officers, and used their own firearms to kill them," prosecutor Philippe Dulieu told a news convention.
"He continued on foot, attacking a parked car the place he opened fire on a 22-year-old man in the passenger seat. The young man died.
"He then continued and entered the Leonie de Waha school. He took a girl working there as hostage. Police intervened, he came out firing at the police officers, wounding several prior to he was killed."
Belgium stays on top alert after a string of attacks including dual suicide bombings in Brussels in 2016 claimed via the Islamic State workforce.
A supply with reference to the investigation told AFP that the gunman was on a distinct police watchlist because of his contacts with radical Islamists.
The supply named the attacker as Benjamin Herman, born in 1982, pronouncing he had previous convictions for theft, violence and drug dealing.
Herman was "already at the run" after committing another homicide on Monday evening in the the town of On, in southern Belgium, the supply said, despite the fact that local prosecutors said they have got not but established a link with the Liege incident.
Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported he were launched from jail on Monday.
"He is suspected of having been radicalised (in jail)... He has been reported or presumed to be belonging to the entourage of an Islamist recruiter," the supply said on situation of anonymity.
Liege police leader Christian Beaupere said it was "clear that the murderer's function was to assault the police". One of the 4 officers wounded had suffered a major leg damage, he added.
Liege, a major city in Western Europe's former industrial heartland, was the scene of another bloody shootout in 2011 when a former convict killed six folks and wounded more than 120.
Prime Minister Charles Michel denounced what he referred to as the "cowardly and blind violence" of Tuesday's assault.
"All our reinforce for the sufferers and their loved ones. We are following the location with the safety products and services and the disaster centre," Michel tweeted.
There was reinforce from other European countries, with French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the "horrible assault" and expressing the "team spirit of the French folks".
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the United Kingdom "stands resolute with our Belgian allies towards terror".
A significant security cordon was arrange around the area, while panicked oldsters came to assemble their youngsters from the college advanced.
The governor of Liege province said all the youngsters and team of workers have been secure and unhurt.
"All the youngsters are advantageous, the ones of the main and kindergarten saw not anything, they have been evacuated through the again of the college," Julie Fernandez, mother of a seven-year-old on the school, told AFP.
"They have been cared for via team of workers and psychologists and high school students have been cared for in a close-by park," added Fernandez, who may be an MP.
Belgium has been on top alert since government in January 2015 smashed a terror cellular in the the town of Verviers that was making plans an assault on police.
The cellular also had links to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind of the November 2015 Islamic State attacks on Paris that killed 130 folks.
Belgium additional raised its terror alert degree after the Paris assault and placed the capital Brussels on lockdown for a week.
IS suicide attacks then targeted Brussels airport and a metro station, which killed 32 folks in March 2016.
In August that same year, a machete-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" attacked two policewomen in the industrial the town of Charleroi prior to being shot lifeless.
The country's law enforcement companies and intelligence products and services came under intense scrutiny for it sounds as if missing a series of leads after the Paris attacks that could have ended in the Brussels bombers.
The bloodshed in the eastern industrial city of Liege began round 10.30am (0830 GMT) Tuesday when the attacker armed with a knife repeatedly stabbed the 2 policewomen prior to the usage of their own firearms to kill them.
Federal prosecutors said they had launched a terror investigation into the incident and would hang a press convention later Wednesday.
"The signs are pointing towards a terrorist act," prosecutor spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told AFP.
Amateur photos picked up via AFP showed the gunman shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") as he walked through the streets during the rampage.
In another video, a short and intense burst of gunfire is audible, and then the person lies at the flooring.
"Armed with a knife, the suspect followed and attacked two police officers, and used their own firearms to kill them," prosecutor Philippe Dulieu told a news convention.
"He continued on foot, attacking a parked car the place he opened fire on a 22-year-old man in the passenger seat. The young man died.
"He then continued and entered the Leonie de Waha school. He took a girl working there as hostage. Police intervened, he came out firing at the police officers, wounding several prior to he was killed."
Belgium stays on top alert after a string of attacks including dual suicide bombings in Brussels in 2016 claimed via the Islamic State workforce.
A supply with reference to the investigation told AFP that the gunman was on a distinct police watchlist because of his contacts with radical Islamists.
The supply named the attacker as Benjamin Herman, born in 1982, pronouncing he had previous convictions for theft, violence and drug dealing.
Herman was "already at the run" after committing another homicide on Monday evening in the the town of On, in southern Belgium, the supply said, despite the fact that local prosecutors said they have got not but established a link with the Liege incident.
Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported he were launched from jail on Monday.
"He is suspected of having been radicalised (in jail)... He has been reported or presumed to be belonging to the entourage of an Islamist recruiter," the supply said on situation of anonymity.
Liege police leader Christian Beaupere said it was "clear that the murderer's function was to assault the police". One of the 4 officers wounded had suffered a major leg damage, he added.
Liege, a major city in Western Europe's former industrial heartland, was the scene of another bloody shootout in 2011 when a former convict killed six folks and wounded more than 120.
Prime Minister Charles Michel denounced what he referred to as the "cowardly and blind violence" of Tuesday's assault.
"All our reinforce for the sufferers and their loved ones. We are following the location with the safety products and services and the disaster centre," Michel tweeted.
There was reinforce from other European countries, with French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the "horrible assault" and expressing the "team spirit of the French folks".
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the United Kingdom "stands resolute with our Belgian allies towards terror".
A significant security cordon was arrange around the area, while panicked oldsters came to assemble their youngsters from the college advanced.
The governor of Liege province said all the youngsters and team of workers have been secure and unhurt.
"All the youngsters are advantageous, the ones of the main and kindergarten saw not anything, they have been evacuated through the again of the college," Julie Fernandez, mother of a seven-year-old on the school, told AFP.
"They have been cared for via team of workers and psychologists and high school students have been cared for in a close-by park," added Fernandez, who may be an MP.
Belgium has been on top alert since government in January 2015 smashed a terror cellular in the the town of Verviers that was making plans an assault on police.
The cellular also had links to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind of the November 2015 Islamic State attacks on Paris that killed 130 folks.
Belgium additional raised its terror alert degree after the Paris assault and placed the capital Brussels on lockdown for a week.
IS suicide attacks then targeted Brussels airport and a metro station, which killed 32 folks in March 2016.
In August that same year, a machete-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" attacked two policewomen in the industrial the town of Charleroi prior to being shot lifeless.
The country's law enforcement companies and intelligence products and services came under intense scrutiny for it sounds as if missing a series of leads after the Paris attacks that could have ended in the Brussels bombers.
Gunman with Islamist links kills three in Belgian city
![Gunman with Islamist links kills three in Belgian city]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 30, 2018
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