IS claims Brussels knife attack
ISLAMIC State jihadists on Saturday claimed the knife attack against patrolling soldiers a day before in Brussels, an assault that came just hours before a swordwielding assailant wounded police outside London’s Buckingham Palace.
The knifeman in Brussels, who hurt a soldier on Friday in what authorities said was an “attempted terrorist murder”, was shot dead, while police in London overpowered a man who injured three unarmed officers outside the royal residence with a 1.2-metre blade.
The 26-year-old man in the London violence has been arrested under the Terrorism Act, which allows for 14 days of precharge detention, and is being held at a police station in the British capital.
The two attacks come as much of Europe is on high alert following a string of deadly assaults over the past two years – most of which have been claimed by jihadists. Last week, Spain was hit by twin vehicle attacks which left 15 dead, and two people were killed in a stabbing spree in Finland.
Belgian prosecutors said the attacker yelled “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) during the assault before being shot by a soldier in the centre of city, which has been on high alert since last year’s carnage at the airport and on the metro.
“The perpetrator of the stabbing operation in Brussels is one of the soldiers of the Islamic State,” the jihadist group’s propaganda outlet Amaq said.
One of the soldiers was slightly hurt in the attack which Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said had been carried out by a “lone individual”.
Overnight, police raided the suspect’s home in Bruges, northwest Belgium.
During the attack near the Grand Place in central Brus- sels at 8pm, the man rushed at several soldiers from behind and struck them with a knife, prompting one of them to open fire.
“The man was hit and died shortly afterwards in hospital from his wounds,” the prosecutors’ statement said. As well as the knife, police found a replica gun and two copies of the Koran on him.
The assailant was a Belgian national of Somali origin who was born in 1987, authorities confirmed. He arrived in the country in 2004 and was grant- ed Belgian nationality in 2015.
Although not known for any terror-related activities, he had an assault and battery charge on his record from February, the statement said.
Less than two hours later, a man drove his car at a police van outside Buckingham Palace.
The attacker “repeatedly shouted Allahu akbar”, reached for a 1.2-metre sword and had to be incapacitated with CS gas, police said in a statement on Saturday.
Three officers were slightly injured in the incident.
The man’s identity has not been disclosed but police said he was from Luton, a city 50 kilometres north of London.
“Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are now investigating and searches are being carried out in the Luton area today,” the police said in a statement.
Police investigating the attack arrested a second man yesterday , a statement said.
“The man was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism at 10:15hrs [0915 GMT] today and he has been taken into custody,” the statement said.
The 30-year-old man was arrested at an address in West London and police are searching the property as part of the inquiry.
‘Soldier bleeding’
The Brussels attack happened on a boulevard near the Grand Place central square, one of the “sensitive” areas of the capital where armed soldiers are on patrol because of the terror threat.
“I heard yelling and straight away two shots,” a witness called Yohan said. He did not wish to give his surname.
As he approached, he said he saw “a soldier bleeding from his hand and a man on the ground”, who had a beard and was wearing a hood.