Belgian Prime Minister: Knife Attack on Two Police Officers Likely Terrorist

Charles Michel, the Prime Minister of Belgium, stated that the attack by an assailant with a knife, which resulted in the injury of two female police officers in the city of Charleroi, was 'likely a terrorist attack.' Belgian authorities are investigating the identity of the deceased assailant. The assailant was shot by a third officer and subsequently killed. His identity is still unknown. On August 7, Michel told the RTL network that initial evidence suggests the possibility of a terrorist attack. The Belgian Minister of the Interior also mentioned that it is still unclear whether the assailant acted alone or if the incident was planned and coordinated by a group. According to AFP, there are reports that the assailant shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before injuring the police officers. Michel, who is on vacation in southern France, has cut his trip short to meet with members of the National Security Council in Brussels on Sunday. Paul Magnette, the mayor of Charleroi, stated that a checkpoint at the location successfully prevented the assailant from entering the police station, thus mitigating potential consequences. Belgium experienced unprecedented widespread attacks in April, including assaults on an airport and a metro station in Brussels, which were claimed by the so-called 'Islamic State' (ISIS), resulting in 34 deaths and numerous injuries. On August 1, Belgian police announced the arrest of two brothers suspected of planning attacks in the country. The Belgian Ministry of the Interior reported that 457 citizens have attempted to join extremist groups in West Asia after leaving the country, with 90 of them either killed or missing.