Belgian prosecutors are investigating an attempt to mow down pedestrians in Antwerp as a failed terror attack.

The federal prosecutor's office in Brussels has charged the suspect with "attempted murder of a terrorist nature, attempted terror assault and battery and weapons legislation violations".

The arrested man, who remains in custody, has been named as Mohamed R, a 39-year-old Tunisian national who lived in France.

The car that was stopped outside Antwerp before attempted attack

No one was injured in the incident at around 10.45am local time (9.45am GMT) on Thursday, a day after a suspected Isis supporter murdered four people in Westminster before being shot dead.

Belgium's federal public prosecutor's office said a France-registered car was driven "at a very high speed" in Antwerp's main shopping street of Meir.

"At several times, pedestrians were put at risk," a spokesperson said. "When soldiers attempted to intercept the vehicle, it fled."

The car was later found and its driver arrested, with knives, a shotgun and a cannister containing an undetermined substance in the boot.

Belgian media reported that police found the suspect asleep in his car after the chase and he was too intoxicated to be immediately interviewed.

Prosecutors noted that the attempted attack happened a day after the car ramming and stabbing in London.

Khalid Masood killed three people when he ploughed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on Wednesday.

In pictures: Westminster attack Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Westminster attack In pictures: Westminster attack An air ambulance lands after gunfire sounds were heard close to the Palace of Westminster in London PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack MPs wait until the situation is under control in Westminster. 'The alleged assailant was shot by armed police,' David Lidington, leader of the House of Commons, told the house. BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Crowds gather in Westminster after shooting incident, which police are treating as terror attack BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Police were also called to an incident on Westminster Bridge nearby AP In pictures: Westminster attack Early reports indicate the car, which mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and mowed into around a dozen people, was the same vehicle which then rammed into the railings of the Palace of Westminster, just around the corner Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack Security sources described the suspected assailant as a middle-aged Asian man, who is understood to have left the car before attacking a police officer with a seven-to-eight inch knife PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack Police have asked people to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident AP In pictures: Westminster attack One woman has died and a number of others, including the police officer, have been hurt, according to a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack At least three gun shots were heard by those inside Westminster, and proceedings in the House of Commons have been suspended AP

He then crashed the vehicle into gates next to the Houses of Parliament, launching himself into a nearby entrance and fatally stabbing a police officer before being shot dead.

Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed detailed instructions released on the group's propaganda channels on how to carry out knife and vehicle attacks.

French President Francois Hollande compared the incidents in Antwerp and London, saying the man was “trying to kill people or create a dramatic event” in Belgium.

Authorities immediately raised security in the centre of Antwerp as Charles Michel, the Belgian Prime Minister, said authorities would remain “extremely vigilant”.

“Our security services have done excellent work,” he added.

The alleged attack came a day after the one year anniversary of Isis' attacks in Brussels, which were marked with nationwide remembrance services.