Belgium: Stabbing-Shooting Incident in Ghent

Today, at about 4pm, Belgium time, a man was shot by police in Ghent after stabbing two passers-by with a knife. The reason for the attack and the identity of the suspect are not known at this time.

The below article from the Flanders newspaper, Nieuwsblad, is translated from Dutch by Fousesquawk.




-Nieuwsblad

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20200202_04831581


Shooting-stabbing area of Brugse Poort

Bevrijdingslaan in Ghent closed after shooting incident


Ghent- The busy Bevrijdingslaan in Ghent was rocked Sunday afternoon by a shooting incident. What happened is not yet clear. The police are at the scene en masse.



What exactly happened Sunday afternoon around 1600 hours is still unclear. The police have closed off the street, but are giving no further information. "The investigation is in progress, (and) we will give a statement later," says the public prosecutor. Though the prosecutor is giving no further statement for the time being, it speaks of a "serious incident."

The reason for the incident is still unclear. But the bystanders in the Koffieshop cafe on the corner of Notelaarstraat (Street) tell what they saw. According to them, a young man was being chased by the police. When the officers told the man to stop, he- according to witnesses- (made stabbing motions) around himself. Two bystanders were, thus, wounded. One of the victims was (reportedly) struck in the stomach.  The police then reportedly shot the attacker in the hand.

The fire department set up a tent on the street to treat people. The Bevrijdingslaan is closed between Notelaarstraat and Virginiastraat. 

* Update: Dagelijkse Standaard (NL) is reporting that the stabbing suspect in Ghent is a woman, not further identified. Translation pending.

*Update (Monday). Four people were stabbed, and a 26-year-old woman shot in the hand and under arrest for attempted murder. Prosecutor says, motive unknown but no connection to terrorism.