Two cops stabbed in ‘act of terrorism’

A MAN shouting “Allahu Akbar” attacked and wounded two police officers with a machete in Belgium yesterday.

He approached the male and female officer outside a police station in the city of Charleroi, south of Brussels, and set upon them with a blade.

A third officer shot the attacker, who died after being taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Last night, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel condemned the “act of terrorism”.

He cut short his holiday in the south of France and will return to Belgium for a meeting of the National Security Council today as the authorities continue their investigations.

The man slashed the two cops with his blade in a wooden hut which had been erected outside a police station to provide extra security.

Witnesses reported hearing gun shots near the police station at 4pm yesterday. Belgian interior minister, Jan Jambon, described the events as “despicable”.

Paul Magnette, mayor of the city, said the checkpoint succeeded in preventing the attacker from reaching the building and causing more havoc.

The mayor said that, in the wake of the attack, Belgian authorities were discussing whether security for police facilities and officers should be increased.

Belgium has been on a high state of alert since the attacks in Paris on November 13 last year during which 130 people were killed.

Many of the attackers, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, lived in Belgium.

Last weekend, a 33-year-old man identified only as Nourredine H was arrested on charges of participating in a terrorist group and planning “terrorist murders”.

In March, 35 people were killed in a series of co-ordinated Islamic State attacks in Brussels.