A woman was shot in the hand by police in the Belgian city of Ghent on Sunday after attacking two pedestrians, local media reported, but authorities said nothing yet indicated the incident was terror related.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the victims were taken to hospital with knife wounds but their lives were not in danger.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office said Belgian police and the public prosecutor's office of East Flanders were investigating the event.

'There is currently no indication that the incident that took place in Ghent was of a terrorist nature,' the office said.

The street, located in northwest of the Dutch-speaking canal city, was closed on Sunday evening with large numbers of police and rescue services at the scene, media said.

It comes after armed police shot dead a suspected terrorist - feared to be wearing a suicide vest - after at least two people were stabbed in London.

Police in Belgium have shot a woman who witnesses said attacked two people with a knife

The suspect was reportedly injured by officers in Ghent during the incident on Bevrijdingslaan

Pictures show a woman pinned to the ground by police on the busy road as witnesses watch in horror

The Metropolitan Police said the London shooting occurred at around 2pm on Streatham High Road on Sunday.

The force believes there are also 'two injured victims' from the incident and are awaiting updates on their condition.

In an earlier tweet, the Met said: 'At this stage it is believed a number of people have been stabbed.

'The circumstances are being assessed; the incident has been declared as terrorist-related.'

Armed police in London have shot a man after a number of people were stabbed during a knife rampage in the middle of a busy high street in broad daylight - three months after two were killed in London Bridge horror

Officers raced to the scene outside a supermarket on High Road in Streatham at around 2pm today following reports of gunfire

A 19-year-old student from Streatham, claimed to have witnessed the shooting on Streatham High Road in front of a Boots store.

He said: 'I was crossing the road when I saw a man with a machete and silver canisters on his chest being chased by what I assume was an undercover police officer - as they were in civilian clothing.

'The man was then shot. I think I heard three gun shots but I can't quite remember.

'After that I ran into the library to get to safety.

'From the library I saw a load of ambulances and armed police officers arrive on the scene.'

Photos from the scene show a lifeless body face down on the pavement with what have been described as 'silver canisters' strapped to his chest with a large knife is lying beside him

Police were filmed standing behind an unmarked police car and pointing their guns towards a suspect who appeared to be lying on the pavement outside the Boots store on the high street

Scotland Yard declared the broad daylight carnage as a terror-related incident around an hour after first reports from the scene

In one video, police toting machine guns and masked undercover officers are seen approaching the suspect's body before rapidly moving away from the area

The student said people began running into nearby stores after the incident.

'We were all informed to stay in buildings by armed police, until we were evacuated,' he said.

It is understood people including children took shelter in nearby shops during the incident, with police later telling shops to close for the day.

Richard Mustonen-Smith, 59, a response pastor for Ascension Trust, has lived in the area all his life.

He said: 'I'm shocked it's happened in Streatham. I've been here all my life. We're always getting accidents down here but not this.

Dozens of emergency vehicles are currently lining the area as well as reports of an air ambulance and police helicopter circling above

An armed police officer stands guards in Streatham after the scene has been fully contained by officers

'My grandson was in the Odeon and they got told to go out the back because there was a bomb. They got them to go out of the back of the cinema. They were there to watch a film.

'When it's a member of your family so close to you, you don't expect it. You're always worried about your family being on the streets but this is even worse.

'I heard two people got stabbed and apparently one man was shouting Allahu Akbar but people thought he was just a crazy man, so he got away. Apparently he had two rucksacks.'

Commenting on the incident, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'I am in close contact with the Met Commissioner and local representatives, and want to thank our police, security and emergency services staff for their swift and courageous response. They truly are the best of us.

'Terrorists seek to divide us and to destroy our way of life - here in London we will never let them succeed.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: 'Thank you to all emergency services responding to the incident in Streatham, which the police have now declared as terrorism-related.

'My thoughts are with the injured and all those affected.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Twitter that she was being kept updated by police.

'My first thoughts are with the victims, our brave police and emergency services and their families,' she wrote.