Immediately after the attack, which is being probed as possibly terror-related, the suspect was shot by another police officer. He is receiving care in a hospital.
Belgian authorities say a lone assailant who fatally stabbed one officer and injured another had visited a police station hours before to express his hatred for law enforcement.
The suspect made “unhinged remarks” during a meeting with officers, Brussels prosecutor Sarah Durant said.
Because he willingly requested psychological assistance, he was not imprisoned but rather taken to a hospital, from which he shortly departed.
Immediately after the attack, which is being probed as possibly terrorism-related, another police officer shot the suspect.
He is receiving care in a hospital.
The authorities were immediately criticized for failing to apprehend the suspect when he made his initial threats to the police on Thursday morning.
However, Ms. Durant stated that according to protocol, he was required to be transported by police to a hospital as he had requested psychological assistance.
She stated that the police remained until the hospital professionals took over.
When authorities checked on his location a few hours later, “it appears that the guy had departed the hospital.”
The federal prosecutor’s office, according to Eric Van der Sypt, is investigating if the Brussels incident occurred in a “terrorist context.”
Suspect “yelled Allahu Akbar”
According to Belgian media, the suspect yelled “Allahu Akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great,” during Thursday evening’s 7.15 p.m. incident.
The authorities maintained the overall terrorist threat level at two out of four, indicating that the risk of an attack remains “moderate.”
The Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo, posted a statement of condolence to the deceased officer’s family and friends.
Every day, our police officers risk their lives to protect our residents, he continued.
The tragedy of today proves this yet again.
Annelies Verlinden, the minister of the interior, said she was in contact with the mayor of Brussels, the police head, and the security agencies to coordinate a reaction to the incident.
She stated, “Such aggression against our people is intolerable.”
