French-Tunisian terrorist arrested while attempting to mow down shoppers in car packed with shotgun and gas canister in Antwerp
French-Tunisian terrorist arrested while attempting to mow down shoppers in car packed with shotgun and gas canister in Antwerp
The driver, who was wearing military-style clothing, was arrested after running a crimson light at high speed
A CRAZED terrorist has been dramatically foiled after attempting to mow down shoppers with a car in Antwerp – in a shocking incident which has been compared to yesterday's deadly London attack.
Cops in the Belgian city reportedly foiled the plot and detained the 39-year-old man, who is a French national of Tunisian descent and was carrying weapons, after he ran a through a crimson traffic light, Antwerp police chief Serge Muyters said.
The man was arrested on Thursday after he attempted to drive into a crowd at high-speed in a shopping area in the port city, a police spokesman said.
“The suspect is Mohamed R., born on May 8, 1977, of French nationality and a resident of France,” the statement said.
Cops have confirmed the suspect was carrying knives, a pump-action rifle and a gas can with an unknown liquid at the time of the arrest.
“A man in camouflage was taken away,” the spokesman told a televised news conference in Antwerp.
Eyewitnesses said they witnessed many horrified people being compelled to leap out of the way as the speed of the car enhanced.
French President Francois Hollande compared the incident to the attack in London that that left three people dead Wednesday, telling the Frenchman was “attempting to kill people or create a dramatic event.”
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It is not yet known if there were any serious injuries or if the car contained any explosives.
The failed attack comes less than twenty four hours after the depraved attack in central where a warped ISIS-linked knifeman mowed people down with a car.
The Belgian incident also comes after the very first anniversary of the Brussels' bomb attacks which claimed the lives of thirty-two guiltless people.
The Antwerp plot was foiled when the car was stopped as it hopped a crimson light, and a safety perimeter established around it instantly, said a local police source.
The driver sped off after Belgian soldiers, who have been deployed around the country to assist the counter-terrorism fight, attempted to stop the car.
“A brief while later, a rapid intervention force from Antwerp police was able to stop the car,” the statement said.
“An anti-terrorist enquiry has been launched. Bomb disposition experts are at the scene, along with sniffer dogs.”
“At about eleven a.m. this morning a vehicle entered De Meir at high speed due to which pedestrians had to hop away.”
The spokesman added the driver was later arrested and extra police and military personnel had been deployed to the centre of Antwerp, but did not give any further details.
Antwerp mayor Bart de Wever tweeted: “My gratitude on behalf of all Antwerp to the soldiers who have intervened, the police services and the special intervention force.”
Belgian authorities say they have raised security in the port of Antwerp after the suspicious car ran a crimson light and was stopped at the docks.
A bomb squad was brought in and the authorities raised security in the centre of town Thursday, in places where people normally gather.
Prime Minister Charles Michel said that “we remain vigilant. Our security services have done excellent work.”
