A BELGIAN POLICE officer has been killed in a knife attack in Brussels, according to authorities, as anti-terror prosecutors took charge of the inquiry.

The spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, Eric Van Duyse, told AFP that federal investigators had taken charge “because there is suspicion of a terrorist motive, which will be confirmed or disproved”.

Local media reported that an assailant stabbed two officers in the area close to the city’s Brussels-North railway station at around 6.15pm before being shot in the legs and abdomen by another police patrol arriving at the scene.

One of the police officers reportedly died of his injuries after being stabbed in the neck and both the other wounded officer and the perpetrator were hospitalised.

A local resident told AFP that he had heard “five or six shots” fired shortly after the time of the attack.

“Our police officers risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of our citizens. Today’s drama demonstrates this once again,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wrote.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased officer. My sincere hope is that his hospitalised colleague will be well,” he posted on social media.

Several news outlets reported, without giving their source, that the assailant had earlier on Thursday gone into a police station in the city to warn that he would try to attack police, but he was not detained.

Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said that she was “closely monitoring the situation” and was in contact with police and local authorities.

“This violence against our people is unacceptable,” she said.

Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said “police and federal prosecutors are doing what they have to to investigate these horrific acts”.

© AFP 2022