Four dead, 123 injured in Belgium attack
Officials named the gunman as Nordine Amrani, 33, a known criminal who had been summoned by police yesterday morning but who never showed up.
“It’s uncertain yet whether he killed himself or whether his weapons exploded,” public prosecutor Danielle Reynders said.
But witnesses have said that Amrani shot himself in the head after the attack, according to Reuters.
Reynders said Amrani had been summoned for police questioning but the reason for the questioning was not clear.
Officials said Amrani left his home in Liege with a backpack, armed with hand grenades, a revolver and an FAL assault rifle. He walked alone to the central square. From a platform, he lobbed three hand grenades toward of a bus shelter, then he opened fire.
Among the three passers-by when Amrani went on his shooting spree was a 15-year-old boy who was killed instantly and a 17-year-old boy, as well as a 75-year-old woman who died later in hospital.
The country’s federal crisis centre earlier said it was not a terrorist incident nor linked to a pending criminal trial.
“It was a lone gunman,” Benoit Ramacker of the centre said.
“It’s very difficult to determine the reasons for the attack, but we’re investigating all avenues.”
Belgium’s Home Affairs Minister Joelle Milquet broke off EU talks and headed for Liege after the attack, as did newly-named Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo.
The attack sent terrified residents running for their lives, and hours later groups of people sat weeping on sidewalks across the windy city amid the screech of ambulance sirens and the roar of helicopters.
The shooting took place around noon on Saint Lambert square, home to the courthouse and located near a busy Christmas market in the town of 196,000 people. Some initial reports said it was a foiled bid to rescue a suspect from the courthouse.
The sources said police had raided Amrani’s Liege home recently seeking cannabis plants but had found arms instead. In 2008 he was sentenced to almost five years in prison for illegal possession of arms and growing cannabis.
There was much initial confusion over the events, with initial reports of more than one gunman.
“We heard two huge deafening noises and then lots of explosions, people were running everywhere,” a baker said on RTL-TV.
We closed the door, turned off the lights and hid behind the counter with the customers.”
Journalist Nicolas Gilenne said he had just left the courthouse where he was covering a trial when the attack began.
“I saw a man wave his arm and throw something at the bus shelter. I heard an explosion. He turned around, picked something else up, pulled the pin. I started to run. He was alone and seemed very much in control. He wanted to hurt as many people as possible. I heard four explosions and shots during about 10 seconds.”
Residents earlier told local television that shots were fired across the square by gunmen posted on the rooftop of a bakery shop and grenades hurled at bus shelters and into the courthouse. Reports had also said that two to three gunmen armed with either explosive flash grenades or killer defensive grenades were involved.
“The city centre is completely cordoned off. People are sheltering in shops or in buildings. Police are in position,” said a town hall employee. Luckily the mayor had postponed the opening of the Christmas market due to bad weather and high winds. Otherwise many more would have died,” the source added.
Belga news agency said several “suspect” objects were found on the square and that police bomb defusal experts were ordered.
