AN “attempted terrorist murder” probe has been launched after a knifeman tried to stab three soldiers and was shot dead in Belgium

The man attacked the ­soldiers from behind in Brussels on Friday while shouting “Allahu akbar” — Arabic for “God is great”.

9 The scene after a man reportedly armed with a 'machete' knifed two soldiers on patrol in Brussels Credit: Twitter/tdasilvarosa

9 A police officer can be seen tending to the 31-year-old on the ground in Brussels city centre Credit: AFP

9 Emergency services appear to be working on the man after he attacked two soldiers with a knife Credit: AFP

The Belgian capital was placed in lockdown with a massive police response following the horror, which came an hour before an almost identical attack on two police officers outside Buckingham Palace.

The soldiers - who suffered injuries to their face and hand - opened fire on the attacker as the 30-year-old man, believed to be from Somalia, charged at them with a large bladed weapon.

Pictures showed police and medics battling to save the suspected terrorist's life before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Officials said the man had no known extremist links - but the prosecutor's office said: "We believe it is a terrorist attack".

A spokeswoman for federal prosecutors said the man had shouted "Allahu Akbar" (Arabic for "God is Great") twice during the attack.

She added: "With the identity that we currently have, it is a 30-year-old man who is not known for terrorist activities."

Belgian Federal Police spokesman, Jonathan Pfunde, said: "A man armed with a knife attacked a group of soldiers. The soldiers fired at him and neutralised the individual."

9 Soldiers stand guard the Boulevard Emile Jacqmain in the city centre of Brussels after the attack Credit: AFP

9 Police secure the scene in downtown Brussels after a reported attack on Belgian Army soldiers Credit: AP:Associated Press

9 A tent can be seen set up at the scene after a man was shot dead by soldiers Credit: Rex Features

It happened at 8.20pm local time (7.20pm BST) near the on Emile-Jacqmain Boulevard, according to local reports.

Witnesses staying nearby hotels said the area was put into lockdown, while a cordon was set up around the scene.

Pictures since emerged showing emergency services working on the man, who was later taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The attack comes just a week after 15 people were murdered in twin terror attacks in Spain.

The alleged ringleader of the Spain terror attacks Abdelbaki Es Satty was in Brussels shortly before the bombings there in 2016, according to reports.

Police are reportedly investigating whether he was involved in the ISIS assaults on Brussels airport and a Metro station that killed 32 people on March 22, 2016.

An hour after the attack in Brussels, a man said to be "armed with a sword" attacked two police officers outside Buckingham Palace in London.

He was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police just after 8.35pm on Friday evening.

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In Brussels, the streets are patrolled by soldiers and regular officers due to a heightened security threat level in the wake of militant attacks in Paris and the Belgian capital in 2015 and 2016.

In June, troops shot dead a suspected suicide bomber in Brussels' central train station but there were no other casualties, in what authorities treated a terrorist incident.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted: "All our support is with our soldiers. Our security services remain on alert. We are following the situation closely."

Brussels resident Freddie Martyn told Sky News: "I arrived on the scene minutes after the incident happened.

"As I got there police were running towards me trying to cordon off the area.

9 Police officers remain at the cordon after the incident earlier this evening Credit: Twitter/tdasilvarosa

9 The area went into lockdown while anti-terror cops investigated the attack Credit: Twitter/tdasilvarosa

9 Officers set up a cordon around the scene where an investigation is underway Credit: Twitter/tdasilvarosa

"One side of the road I saw an ambulance with someone in there, which I'm guessing was the soldier because on the other side there was another man in civilian clothing being given CPR."

He added: "It was all quite frightening."

Thomas da Silva Rosa tweeted: "A man with a machete attacked soldiers on patrol in Brussels centre, now shot dead."

Ryan MacDonald wrote: "Sound of gunshot, heavy police presence outside on Boulevard Emile Jacqmain, Brussels."

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