Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Machete-wielding man causes evacuation of neighbourhood in Liege, Belgium

Man has been arrested following the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning

Caroline Mortimer
Sunday 07 August 2016 08:21 EDT
Comments
Belgium is on high alert following numerous terror attacks throughout Europe (file photo)
Belgium is on high alert following numerous terror attacks throughout Europe (file photo) (Reuters )

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A neighbourhood in the Belgian city of Liege was evacuated after a machete-wielding man was spotting in the area, local media say.

Police received a call at around 6:20am local time (5:20am UK time) on Sunday morning saying there was a man with a machete in the Carre neighbourhood of the north-eastern city.

A man in his 20s, reportedly of Turkish origin, was arrested at the scene but was not said to be planning an attack.

According to local newspaper La Venir, he does not have a criminal record and will be referred to the city's prosecutor during the course of the day.

There are no indications at this stage that the incident is connected to terrorism, but it comes the day after a man was shot dead after attacking and wounding two female police officers with a machete in Charleroi in the country's south.

The assailant was reported to have shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he attacked the officers outside the main police station before a third officer nearby shot him dead.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel cut short his holiday to respond to the incident and said the "initial indications" pointed to it being a terror incident.

On Sunday he said the incident was now being investigated as a terrorist attack.

One of the policewoman sustained minor injuries while the other required hospital treatment for "serious wounds" to her face.

Neither condition was described as "life-threatening".

Belgium remains on high alert following the major terror attack on Brussels' main airport and metro links in March which killed 32 people and left hundreds more injured.

Similarly there have been numerous attacks on neighbouring France and Germany in recent months, including a lorry attack on a Bastille Day crowd in Nice on 14 July which killed 84 people.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in