2018 Brussels stabbing attack

2018 Brussels stabbing attack
LocationBrussels, Belgium
Date20 November 2018 (CET)
TargetPolice, civilians
Attack type
Stabbing
WeaponsKnife
Deaths0
Injured2 (including the perpetrator)

The 2018 Brussels stabbing attack occurred on 20 November 2018 when a man wielding two knives attacked police officers outside a police station adjacent to the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (main square) in Brussels, Belgium. A police officer was wounded and the attacker was shot and injured by the police. Both the attacker and a wounded officer were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries. An investigation for possible links to terrorism is underway. Jan Jambon, Belgium's Minister of the Interior and Security, said the suspect had been interned and recently freed.[1]

Incident

At around 5.30 am local time (CET) on 20 November 2018 a man attacked two policemen outside a police station adjacent to Brussels' central Grand-Place/Grote Markt, stabbing one of the officers in the neck with a knife.[2][3][4] Witnesses reported that the knife-wielding attacker screamed "Allahu Akbar" as he threw himself at the two policemen.[2][5][6]

Impact

The wounded officer was then rushed to hospital. The Belgian police said that the officer who was injured was not in life-threatening danger, but would be incapacitated for many weeks.[7] The attacker, who wielded two kitchen knives, survived his injuries, but was left in a critical condition.[2]

Suspect

Belgian media reported the man, named by local press only as "Issam T," was known to police for robbery and violent crimes but not for any links to Islamic terrorism.[8] He was released from a secure hospital in October against the recommendation of the office of the public prosecutor, which has now opened an investigation into "attempted murder with a terrorist motive".[2] The suspect had previously tried to kill a prison guard.[9]

Investigation

On 23 November, via a warrant issued for "murder and acts of terrorism", police searched the home of a friend of the suspect.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ D.H. (20 November 2018). "Attaque au couteau d'un policier: ouverture d'une enquête contre le suspect Issam T. pour "tentative d'assassinat dans un contexte terroriste"". La Capitale (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2018. l'a indiqué Jan Jambon sur Radio 1, « sur la base des informations dont nous disposons, [était] personne internée qui avait récemment été libérée ».
  2. ^ a b c d Crisp, James (20 November 2018). "Man shot after stabbing police officer in the neck in Brussels" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Brussels attack: Terror as police officer stabbed by knifeman 'screaming allahu akbar' | World | News". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Police officer stabbed in knife attack in Brussels". 20 November 2018.
  5. ^ Osborn, Samuel (20 November 2018). "Brussels attack: Police officer stabbed in Belgium's capital before attacker shot". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. ^ Kureshi, Ashan (24 November 2018). "Poisonous fruits". The Nation. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. ^ NAWAL BENSALEM (24 November 2018). "Que sait-on aujourd'hui de l'enquête sur Issam T., l'auteur des coups de couteau contre un policier?". La Dernière Heure (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2018. incapacité de travail pour plusieurs semaines, a précisé le parquet de Bruxelles hier matin
  8. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (20 November 2018). "Brussels Police Officer Is Stabbed, Officials Say". New York Times. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Bruxelles: Issam T. avait déjà tenté de tuer un gardien de prison - Édition digitale de Charleroi". lanouvellegazette.be. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  10. ^ NAWAL BENSALEM (23 November 2018). "Policier poignardé à Bruxelles : perquisition dans l'entourage d'Issam T. ce vendredi matin". La Dernière Heure (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2018. La DH apprend qu'une perquisition a eu lieu ce matin chez un ami du suspect placé sous mandat du chef de tentative de meurtre dans un contexte terroriste.