Europe

Islamic State claims Brussels knife attack on soldiers

Belgian citizen of Somali origin shot dead after attacking three troops on Friday

Soldiers at the scene where a man attacked two soldiers with a knife in Brussels. Photograph: Thomas Da Silva Rosa/Reuters
Soldiers at the scene where a man attacked two soldiers with a knife in Brussels. Photograph: Thomas Da Silva Rosa/Reuters
Sun Aug 27 2017 - 09:17

The Islamic State news agency Aamaq has claimed the Brussels attacker who assaulted three soldiers with a knife is an Islamic State " soldier".

In a statement Sunday it said he carried out the Friday evening attack in response to calls to target countries of the coalition that is fighting IS.

Belgian prosecutors have opened an attempted terrorist murder inquiry after the attacker assaulted the soldiers while shouting “Allahu akbar”.

He was shot dead by troops.

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The federal prosecutor’s office said the man was known to police for assault charges but had no previous terror-related offences.

The suspect, a Belgian citizen of Somali origin, was also carrying a fake firearm and copies of the Koran.

IS often claims attacks by people who have no known link to the group.

AP