Police officer stabbings in Schaerbeek were possible terrorist act

Two police officers in the Brussels municipality of Schaerbeek on Wednesday were seriously injured in a knife attack. The agents were the victims of an unprovoked attack by a man with a knife near the intersection of Avenue Britsiers and Boulevard Lambermont. A third agent who rushed to the scene suffered a broken nose while intercepting the suspect as he tried to flee.

One officer was stabbed in the neck, while the second officer was stabbed in the stomach. Both agents were taken to hospital, but did not sustain any life-threatening injuries.

The suspect tried to run away, but a third officer was able to intercept him, suffering a broken nose in the process. The perpetrator was then shot in the leg and arrested.

The offender, identified as 43-year-old Belgian national Hicham D., is a former soldier who has had contact with Syria fighters, according to the federal prosecutor, who is investigating the possiblity of a terrorist attack. An initial search of the man's home did not turn up any weapons or explosives.