'Machete attack' on police officers in Belgium

'Machete attack' on police officers in Belgium
Two police officers in the Belgium city of Charleroi have been injured in a 'machete attack', while the assailant was shot dead.
1 min read
06 August, 2016
The attacker reportedly targeted two Belgian policemen [Getty]
A machete-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is the Greatest") wounded two policewomen in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi, on Saturday before being shot and killed, local police said.

One of the policewomen was taken to hospital with "deep wounds to the face" while the other was slightly injured, Belga news agency said.

The incident took place outside the city's main police station.

Belgium has been on high security alert for months since suicide bombers hit Brussels airport and a subway station near the European Union's institutions on 22 March, killing 32 people.

The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group.

Separately on 30 Jul, Belgian authorities charged a 33-year-old man, identified as Nourredine H., with attempting to commit "terrorist murder" and "taking part in the activities of a terrorist organisation".

Belgium was key to the planning of Islamic State group cell attacks in Paris in November 2015, which killed 130 people.