Rym Kechiche: "The suspect held responsible for the blackmail attempt has claimed responsibility for Friday morning's attack. We are not commenting further at the request of the examining magistrate and in the interest of the investigation."

The suspect managed to escape after the attack. A manhunt is now underway.

Security at the store has been increased with a security guard now positioned at the store entrance. Extra security measures are in force at other Delhaize stores, but no details are being released.

The first threatening email sent to Delhaize and the Belgian press agency Belga was dispatched on 8 December. This is also the date of an attack at a Delhaize store in Deurne (Antwerp), when an unbalanced man attacked a toddler with a screwdriver. There is speculation that the man responsible for the present attack sought his inspiration in the earlier incident.

