BRUSSELS: An attack on Tuesday that killed two policewomen and a male bystander in the Belgian city of Liege is being treated as "terrorist murder", prosecutors said Wednesday.
The gunman, identified as 31-year-old Benjamin Herman, is also suspected in the killing of a fourth person on the eve of his rampage, federal prosecutors' spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told a press conference.
"The facts are qualified as terrorist murder and attempted terrorist murder," Van Der Sypt said, referring also to the shootings that wounded four other police officers.
Prosecutors said this assessment was based on a number of "first elements" from the investigation, including the "modus operandi" of attacking police with a knife and stealing their firearms, which the Daesh group has encouraged in online videos.
In Tuesday's attack Herman stabbed the two policewomen repeatedly before taking their handguns.
Van Der Sypt said they also based their argument on the fact he shouted "Allahu Akbar", or "God is greatest" in Arabic.
Finally, Van Der Sypt said, there were reports from state security and regional authorities that the perpetrator had "been in touch with radicalised persons".
The killer "is also suspected of a manslaughter in On, Marche-en-Famenne", in southern Belgium, he added.
"The exact circumstances of this offence are the subject of a separate investigation," Van Der Sypt said.
Belgium killings are 'terrorist murder': prosecutors
Belgium killings are 'terrorist murder': prosecutors
- Gunman, named as petty criminal Benjamin Herman, was released from prison on a two-day leave Monday.
- Herman stabbed two female police officers and then used their guns on them.
