CNN
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Authorities said on Thursday a stabbing attack in Brussels that resulted in the death of at least one police officer was said to be “suspected of terrorism-related involvement”.
“It is suspected to be related to terrorism. A spokesman for the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Eric Van Duyse, told CNN.
The incident on Thursday night saw the patrol officer being attacked with a knife by someone. A spokesman for the North Brussels police force told CNN via email: “Other officers came as a backup and used their guns to shoot the attacker in order to subdue him.”
“The injured have been taken to the hospital. The spokesperson added.
Prosecutor spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt said the attacker was shot in the leg.
According to Van Duyse, the attack took place around 7:30 p.m. local time at Rue d’Aerschot in the Brussels city of Schaerbeek.
Lawmakers offered condolences to the family of the police officer killed following news of the attack.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressed his condolences and extended his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased officer.
“Our police officers risk their lives and limbs every day to keep our society safe. Unfortunately, that was again clear today,” he said in a tweet.
Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden described the incident as “heartbreaking and appalling news.”
“My thoughts are first of all with loved ones, members of the police precinct and the entire police organization,” she tweeted.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close called it an “unbearable drama” in Brussels.
“We stand in solidarity with the police force. The police protect us and must be protected,” he said.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said she was “shocked” by the killing of a police officer on duty.
“The Belgian police have worked so closely with the (European Parliament) for so many years that this feels personal to us. Our thoughts are with them, their loved ones and everyone in Belgium,” she wrote on Twitter.
Belgium has seen a number of terrorist attacks over the past decade.
In 2017, ISIS claimed responsibility for a knife attack on soldiers in Brussels. Soldiers suffered minor injuries in the incident, but one managed to shoot the attacker, who later died in hospital.
In June of that year, a suspect was shot dead at a Brussels transit station following a failed bomb attack that authorities called a terrorist attack. In March 2016, coordinated attacks at Brussels airport and a metro station left 31 people dead and more than 300 injured.
