Liege shooting: Two police and civilian dead in Belgium

[GennGreymane]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe...ource=facebook

A man has shot dead two police officers and a civilian in the eastern Belgian city of Liège.

The gunman took a female cleaner hostage at a school before being killed by police. Two other police officers were also injured.

The man's motive is not yet clear but the incident is being treated as terrorism.

Police sources quoted in local media said the man was heard shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest" in Arabic).

Belgian broadcaster RTBF said the gunman was let out from prison on temporary release on Monday where he had been serving time on drug offenses. It said that he may have been radicalised while in jail.

What happened?
The shooting unfolded late morning on Tuesday near a cafe in the city centre.

Prosecutors said the man followed and attacked police with a knife, before taking a gun from them and opening fire.

He also shot dead a man who was sitting in the passenger seat of a passing car.

The gunman then fled to a nearby school and briefly took a hostage.

Footage on social media showed people running to safety as several gunshots rang out. Children at the school were moved to safety.

Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel said he was following the situation closely and expressed his support for those caught up in the shooting.

What's the wider situation?
Belgium remains on alert after a series of jihadist attacks in the country and in neighbouring France.

A Brussels-based cell was involved in the 2015 Paris attacks which left 130 people dead in several locations.

Brussels itself saw three suicide bombings in March 2016, with 32 people killed. Both the Paris and Brussels attacks were claimed by the Islamic State-group.

Later in 2016 a man attacked two police officers with machetes while shouting "Allahu Akbar" before being shot dead.

Footage on social media showed people running to safety as several gunshots rang out. Children at the school were moved to safety.

Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel said he was following the situation closely and expressed his support for those caught up in the shooting

What's the wider situation?
Belgium remains on alert after a series of jihadist attacks in the country and in neighbouring France.

A Brussels-based cell was involved in the 2015 Paris attacks which left 130 people dead in several locations.

Brussels itself saw three suicide bombings in March 2016, with 32 people killed. Both the Paris and Brussels attacks were claimed by the Islamic State-group.

Later in 2016 a man attacked two police officers with machetes while shouting "Allahu Akbar" before being shot dead

[Wilfire]

The EU is nothing more than limp-wristed international cabal.

[sinilaid]

A daily reminder that Islam is the religion on peace.

[Deleted]

A daily reminder that Islam is the religion on peace.

It's a pity really... Even after they were shown the potential of religion when they were ravaged by holy christian crusaders again and again, they are entire useless even given full control of countries. Just look at Iran, we poked and poked and poked and poked and poked and recently poked again - why are they not going on a great jihad as other religions did for far insignificant reasons? They have so much better technology to send the message of their god to every corner in the world but they don't. Instead they let us divide them, shatter them and shipping them to European countries just to knife down a little bit after they realize they have nothing left worth to live for in this world... Even robber gangs 4000 years ago were more productive.

[Currently Retired]

It's a pity really... Even after they were shown the potential of religion when they were ravaged by holy christian crusaders again and again, they are entire useless even given full control of countries. Just look at Iran, we poked and poked and poked and poked and poked and recently poked again - why are they not going on a great jihad as other religions did for far insignificant reasons? They have so much better technology to send the message of their god to every corner in the world but they don't. Instead they let us divide them, shatter them and shipping them to European countries just to knife down a little bit after they realize they have nothing left worth to live for in this world... Even robber gangs 4000 years ago were more productive.

"Answer to violence with violence" seems to be the basis of human society. Will it ever change, though?

[Ghostpanther]

Sorry to hear of this. But one important lesson here is, he was able to attack the police and take one their weapons by using a......knife.

[Independent voter]

Sorry to hear of this. But one important lesson here is, he was able to attack the police and take one their weapons by using a......knife.

I'm going to say 99.99999% of people aren't brave enough to use a knife to take a gun away from cops, especially American cops who'll shoot you if they see you with a knife.

[Nutri]

If these terrorists want to make some impact, why are they never targetting politicians?

You can run over 50 people with a semi and and demand to get the hell out of whatever Islamic country is being bombed, but all a government will say is "we won't bow for terrorism" and move on. It can't be that hard shooting or blowing up politicians and really cripple a country to force a hand, would it?

[Noradin]

Sorry to hear of this. But one important lesson here is, he was able to attack the police and take one their weapons by using a......knife.

You suppose we should ban police so this doesn't happen again?

[Ghostpanther]

I'm going to say 99.99999% of people aren't brave enough to use a knife to take a gun away from cops, especially American cops who'll shoot you if they see you with a knife.

That is a good point.

[ParanoiD84]

They never disappoint with screaming Allahu Akbar.

[Ghostpanther]

You suppose we should ban police so this doesn't happen again?

Up to you guys.

[Deleted]

Goes to show, even a Benjamin Herman can convert to Islam, apparently.

[Daedius]

They never disappoint with screaming Allahu Akbar.

Got to have a catch phrase.

[psyquest]

Putting this here before from crazy crap start spreading crap

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DeXYyqjXcAA4CUu.jpg

Name is Benjamin Herman known to police as a violent drug dealer , psychologically unstable and visibly radicalised "drum roll", in prison.

[Deleted]

Sorry to hear of this. But one important lesson here is, he was able to attack the police and take one their weapons by using a......knife.

He came at them from behind, while they were talking to a civilian. I am pretty sure US cops, doesnt have eyes in the back of their skulls.

[Ghostpanther]

Putting this here before from crazy crap start spreading crap

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DeXYyqjXcAA4CUu.jpg

Name is Benjamin Herman known to police as a violent drug dealer , psychologically unstable and visibly radicalised "drum roll", in prison.

We have lots of those here in the US also. Which account for most of our gun death's.

[zmp]

A daily reminder that Islam is the religion on peace.

Yeah, the peacefullness of Islam reminds me of Israel.

[Ghostpanther]

He came at them from behind, while they were talking to a civilian. I am pretty sure US cops, doesnt have eyes in the back of their skulls.

He was a fast dude then!! The other cop not trained to react quickly to a deadly threat?

[XangXu]

I bet if anyone tried to speak up about the dangers of Islam they’ll be jailed.

Terrorists win, I guess.