2 Belgian cops & civilian killed

LIEGE, Belgium — A knifewielding prison inmate on a 48-hour leave stabbed two police officers Tuesday in the Belgian city of Liege, seized their service weapons and shot them and a bystander to death before being mowed down by a group of officers.

The attack set off a major terror investigation into the country’s most savage assault since 2016 suicide attacks.

Prime Minister Charles Michel acknowledged the assailant, who had a lengthy criminal record that included theft, assault and drug offenses, had appeared in three reports on radicalism but was still allowed to take a leave from prison.Tuesday’s attack happened outside a cafe in the eastern city of Liege. Police Chief Christian Beaupere said “the goal of the attacker was to target the police.”