Islamic State claims responsibility for Belgium machete attack

August 07, 2016 20:27

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Sunday for an attack that wounded two policewomen in the Belgian city of Charleroi, saying the machete-wielding assailant was a "soldier" of the group.

Quoting an unidentified source, the IS-linked Amaq Agency said Saturday's attack came "in response to calls to target citizens" belonging to countries in a United States-led coalition bombing Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

The assailant died after being shot by officers. The police said that he was a 33-year-old Algerian with the initials K B.

Belgium has opened a terrorism probe into the attack, the latest in a string of jihadist assaults in Europe.

"We have been informed by federal prosecutors that an investigation has started for attempted terrorist murder... given certain elements (in the case)," Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters.

Michel, who saluted the courage of the police victims, was referring to the attacker's cry of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) during the assault in front of a police station.

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