Brussels attack: Police officer stabbed in Belgium's capital before attacker shot

Investigators looking at all possible motivations including links to extremist groups

A police officer stands behind police tape during investigations at the scene of a stabbing in the centre of Brussels (AP/Sylvain Plazy)

A policeman has been stabbed near the Grand Place in Brussels’ historic centre before the attacker was shot and wounded, officials have said.

Belgium’s interior minister, Jan Jambon, described the pre-dawn attack as a “cowardly act against our policemen.”

The victim was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries while the attacker was seriously hurt.

Local media said it was an apparent Islamist attack, but police have said the motive was unclear.

Belgian newspaper DH cited unnamed sources as saying the attacker shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest).

The country’s justice minister, Koen Geens, said investigators were looking at all possible motivations, including links to extremist groups, but there were no clear indications yet.

Police keep watch outside the police headquarters after a policeman was stabbed in Brussels (REUTERS/Yves Herman)

The attack came during a two-day visit to Belgium by France’s president, Emmanuel Macron.

Belgium has been under heightened security since the March 2016 attacks at Brussels’ airport and subway, which left 32 people dead.

The national threat level was reduced to two from three on a four-point scale in January.