Police in Belgium and Britain were on Saturday investigating two knife attacks on security forces by assailants who allegedly shouted “Allahu akbar” before being stopped.
The attacker in Brussels, who wounded a soldier on Friday in what authorities said was an “attempted terrorist murder”, was shot dead, while police in London overpowered a man who injured three unarmed officers outside Buckingham Palace with a four-foot (one-metre) sword.
The 26-year-old man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act, which allows for 14 days of pre-charge detention, and is being held at a police station in central London.
The two incidents come as much of Europe is on high alert following a string of major attacks over the past two years — most of which have been claimed by jihadists.
Last week, Spain was hit by twin vehicle attacks which left 15 dead, and two people were killed in a stabbing spree in Finland.
Belgian prosecutors said the attacker yelled “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) during the assault before being shot by a soldier in the centre of city, which has been on high alert since last year’s carnage at the airport and on the metro.
One of the soldiers was slightly hurt in the attack which Brussels Mayor Philippe Close said had been carried out by a “lone individual”.
Overnight, police raided the suspect’s home in Bruges, northwest Belgium.
AFP