There are reports out of Belgium Saturday that two police officers in the city of Charleroi were attacked and injured by a man carrying either a knife or a machete before the suspect was shot. The suspect, who is expected to survive, is said to have shouted “Allah Akbar” during the attack, according to a tweet directly from the Charleroi police:
2 policières blessées par machette devant hôtel de police par auteur criant Allah Ouhakbar. Individu abattu mais vivant #PoliceCharleroi
— Police Charleroi (@PoliceCharleroi) August 6, 2016
Live updates as policewoman stabbed with machete outside station https://t.co/aUBU9C2Z0W pic.twitter.com/dyiOE6TiYd
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 6, 2016
Belgian machete police attacker shouted 'Allahuh Akhbar https://t.co/NO15Geh9Fk pic.twitter.com/6HhegtbdE0
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/AnneBayefsky/status/761948416037519360
That detail should make it a bit easier to untangle the attacker’s motives.
In March, 32 people were killed and more than 300 injured in coordinating suicide bombings at an airport and metro station in Brussels. Two brothers involved in carrying out the attack had collected thousands in unemployment benefits from Belgium while coordinating the attack.
Update:
Good news: Police say that the two officers who were attacked will be fine, and the attacker, who had a machete, has been killed.
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Le décès de l'agresseur à la machette est confirmé. Les deux collègues sont hors de danger. Merci pour le soutien #PoliceCharleroi
— Police Charleroi (@PoliceCharleroi) August 6, 2016
“The death of the attacker with a machete is confirmed. The two colleagues are out of danger. Thanks for your support.”
Update:
Brace yourselves for a shock.
Machete attack on police may be terrorism, Belgian premier says https://t.co/ymqx6mTZAz
— Bloomberg (@business) August 6, 2016
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Twitchy will update this story as details become available.
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