Gunman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ shoots dead two policemen in Belgium

A gunman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ shot two policemen and a third victim dead before being killed by anti-terrorist officers in the Belgium city of Liege today

The drama unfolded soon after 10.30am today, when gunfire was heard near the Augustins café in the city centre. 

‘Two officers were hit and then the man went on the run,’ said a local source. ‘He was seen running into the Waha secondary school, where he is said to have taken a female cleaner hostage.’

Minutes later, anti-terrorist special forces police could be seen surrounding the area, which went into lock down. 

‘The gunman was then neutralised,’ said the source, confirming that he was shot dead. ‘He was heard shouting Alluhu Akbar’ – Arabic for ‘God is the Greatest’.

Local police then confirmed that two officers had been killed in the bloodbath, along with a passer-by, a woman in a car (according to the Mirror) . Others were wounded.

The national anti-terrorist crisis centre said terrorism could not be excluded as a motive although it was also looking into other possible reasons. A spokesman for the centre said that terrorism ” is one of the questions on the table, but for the moment all scenarios are open.”

Chilling images posted online show the gunman, named as Benjamin Hermans, wielding two handguns after killing his victims. He launched the attack just one day after he was released from prison so he could visit family and friends, with local reports claiming he was “radicalised” behind bars. Belgian authorities said the incident is being treated as terrorism. That must be an update on the earlier statement; or made by someone with more idea of how many beans make five.

The hostage was released without harm.