A machete-wielding man has been gunned down after attacking a group of soldiers while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' in Brussels - near a street where ISIS called for vehicle attacks just days ago.

The 30-year-old Somalian is thought to have died after injuring the troops, with witnesses reportedly hearing 'two bangs' during the incident.

Belgian prosecutors said: 'We believe that it is a terrorist attack.'

The scene on Boulevard Emile Jacqmain has been flooded with police and cordons are in place, according to pictures from the scene.

Police and a soldier are seen watching over the man who attacked troops in Brussels

Emergency services are believed to have attempted to resuscitate the attacker but he died at the scene in Brussels

Belgium's anti-crisis centre said soldiers have 'neutralised' the man and the situation is 'under control'.

Tonight's incident happened just metres from a street where ISIS jihadis had called for vehicle attacks and police arrested a suspected bomber in a shopping mall.

'There was an attack against a soldier in Brussels,' federal police told AFP. 'Soldiers at the scene responded.'

A chilling post on the Telegram app called for terror fanatics to mow down pedestrians on nearby Rue Neuve - which is considered to be the second most popular shopping street in the city.

Police have secured downtown Brussels after the man - a 30-year-old Somalian - was shot by soldiers

Just days ago jihadis called for attacks on a street only yards away. Pictured: The scene in Brussels after the attack

Police officers, including one armed with a rifle, stand guard at the scene. Belgium's anti-crisis centre said soldiers 'neutralised' the man and the situation is 'under control'

Police simply said 'soldiers at the scene responded' after the attack

On the same street a man wearing a fake suicide belt triggered a bomb alert last year after acting suspiciously near the City 2 Shopping Centre.

A Brussels police spokesman said at the time: 'The man was arrested, but it turned out that his suicide belt was fake. It contained salt and biscuits.'

The attack came a year after 35 people were killed and 340 injured when ISIS terrorists blew up Brussels Airport and a train station in the city.

In June a man with possible ISIS sympathies was shot dead before he could detonate a suitcase bomb in the city's Central train station.

The latest attack was also just a week after jihadists ploughed through crowds on a popular street in Barcelona, killing 13 and injuring 130 last Thursday.

Police and soldiers can still be seen in the area

The country's prime minister Charles Michel tweeted: 'All our support is with our soldiers. Our security services remain on alert. We are following the situation closely.' Pictured: The scene in Brussels

Tonight's incident happened just metres from a street where ISIS jihadis had called for vehicle attacks in a chilling post on the Telegram app, pictured

A spokeswoman for the Belgian prosecution service said: 'With the identity that we currently have it is a 30-year-old man who is not known for terrorist activities'

After witnessing today's atrocity, Ryan MacDonald wrote on Twitter: 'Sound of gunshot, heavy police presence outside on Boulevard Emile Jacqmain, Brussels.'

Another said: 'Heard two bangs and loads of sirens in Brussels, anyone know what's happening?'

A spokeswoman for the Belgian prosecution service said: 'With the identity that we currently have it is a 30-year-old man who is not known for terrorist activities.'

The country's prime minister Charles Michel also tweeted: 'All our support is with our soldiers. Our security services remain on alert. We are following the situation closely.'