We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again.

Witnesses heard the knife-wielding attacker screamed “allahu akbar” as he threw himself at two policemen, according to local newspaper La Derniere. The attack took place in front of a city centre police station a short walk from the Belgian capital’s Grand place, a world renowned tourist attraction. The attacker wounded one police officer outside the city’s main police station on Rue du Marché au Charbon at around 5.30am local time on Tuesday morning, Ilse Van De Keere, a police spokesman, said.

The suspect was shot and wounded by another officer, she added.

Ms Van De Keere said there are no current confirmation of the attack being a terror incident and investigations are going. Police would not confirm witness reports the suspect said "Allahu Akbar" when he attacked.

She said: “A police officer was stabbed and slightly wounded.

“His colleagues retaliated by firing shots at the attack who was subdued.”