Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack in which a man wielding a machete injured two female police officers in Belgium.

The Amaq news agency, which is linked to the terror group, announced the claim on Twitter.

It came as the suspect was identified by Belgian prosecutors on Sunday as a 33-year-old Algerian with a criminal record who "may have been been inspired by a terrorist motive".

They said he was known to police for criminal offences, but not terrorism-related acts.

He was shot following the attack in Charleroi on Saturday and was later confirmed to have died from his injuries, the city's police said in a tweet.


After what appeared to be the latest in a series of jihadist attacks in western Europe, Belgian's prime minister Charles Michel announced a new terror inquiry had been launched.

Mr Michel said: "We have been informed by federal prosecutors that an investigation has started for attempted terrorist murder... given certain elements (in the case)."

Sky's Mark White said one of the officers suffered moderate injuries to her face and the other was less severely wounded.

Image: The scene of a suspected terror attack in Charleroi

He said: "This was an attack that unfolded at 4pm local time in Belgium outside the police station.

"Two police officers were attacked according to police officials by a man wielding a machete.

"A third officer, who was there at the police station, opened fire on the attacker.

"Now, there are local reports, this hasn't come from police sources, but local reports suggesting that the attacker as he set about attacking those two police officers was heard to shout 'Allahu Akbar', the Arabic phrase for God is great.

"But that at this stage hasn't been confirmed by police, but it is being widely reported by media sources in and around the city of Charleroi."

It comes months after a deadly attack in which 35 people were killed in a suicide bombing on Brussels main airport and a local Metro station in the Belgian capital.