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A man has shot dead two police officers and a civilian in the eastern Belgian city of Liège.
The gunman took a female cleaner hostage at a school before being killed by police. Two other police officers were also injured.
The man's motive is not yet clear but the incident is being treated as terrorism.
Police sources quoted in local media said the man was heard shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest" in Arabic).
Belgian broadcaster RTBF said the gunman was let out from prison on temporary release on Monday where he had been serving time on drug offenses. It said that he may have been radicalised while in jail.
The shooting unfolded late morning on Tuesday near a cafe in the city centre.
Update: 16:56 UTC
More recent reporting states:
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/29/europe/liege-shooting-intl/index.html
The incident occurred at around 10:30 a.m. when an assailant stabbed two policewomen from behind, before stealing their service weapons and using them on the officers, Liege Prosecutor Philippe Dulieu said at a news conference on Tuesday.
After killing the two officers, the attacker continued walking through the street and opened fire on a parked vehicle, fatally wounding the driver inside, Dulieu added.
The gunman also killed a 22-year-old male car passenger on the Boulevard d'Avory, before taking a female cleaner hostage at a nearby high school.
She was released when police shot dead the attacker, who has been named by local media as Belgian national Benjamin Herman.
See also, thanks to C0lo:
(Score: 5, Interesting) by SomeGuy on Tuesday May 29 2018, @01:26PM (9 children)
How do you say "There is no such thing as God, you fucking numnut retard" in Arabic?
Wow, a shooting all the way in Belgium. And this is news because why? There are shootings in the US every day. Is it because they said "Allahu Akbar" instead of "Giiive me your iPhoooone!"? Or do you just like saying "Belgium"?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 29 2018, @01:34PM (2 children)
Because it's unusual.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 29 2018, @02:08PM (1 child)
Belgium only makes up ~2% of the EU's population, making it unusual for it to turn up in news of any sort.
Attacks since 2010, as listed by wikiepdia:
Germany, 16[1]
France, 32[3]
Belgium, 6[4]
France or Germany being attacked just isn't newsworthy anymore, Belgium still is. Most importantly though is that I felt surprised, and at the end of the day the news sells not based on how unusual it is but how unusual it is perceived to be.
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Germany#Terrorism_in_(or_involving)_West_Germany_and_reunified_Germany
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_France#21st_century [wikipedia.org]
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorist_activity_in_Belgium [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 29 2018, @03:46PM
Somebody getting shot while dressed up as Ronald McDonald, passing out printed pictures of the Goatse guy, while the wind is blowing from the south, without having cell phone - now THAT is unusual, but also not newsworthy for Soylentnews. There is no clickbait advertising quota that needs to be filled.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday May 29 2018, @01:38PM
Fuck the other people, I got mine!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by janrinok on Tuesday May 29 2018, @02:18PM (1 child)
And you think that the rest of the world should just ignore shootings simply because the US has a problem with gun control? Nah, not going to happen. Or perhaps you are of the view that, unless it happens in the US, it is irrelevant?
Outside of the USA this is news. Terrorism is still news even when Americans are not involved. I'll accept that it isn't a major attack but it is still significant.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 29 2018, @08:24PM
Compared to the rest of the world, the USA doesn't have a problem with gun control. There is a bit in states like California, Maryland, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. The rest of us have freedom, more or less.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 29 2018, @02:25PM (1 child)
Because we're in the middle of Ramadanadingdong, [thereligionofpeace.com] exhibition season for the religion of peace?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday May 29 2018, @08:05PM
As a recent convert maybe he wasn't prepared for how hangry he got during the fast.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 5, Informative) by requerdanos on Tuesday May 29 2018, @04:36PM
Let's break this down.
Without names = "Unidentified officials"
Passive voice, no subject = "unidentified random idiots"
Thus:
"Unidentified officials said that unidentified random idiots said that the killer totally shouted 'Allahu Akbar!' just like they do on TV. In Arabic this translates to something violently ironic."
I'm not saying that it didn't happen; I am just saying I am underwhelmed by the presented evidence that it did.