Four police officers were injured after
gunmen opened fire on tuesday during a Belgian-French operation linked
to November's Paris attacks.
One man armed with an assault rifle was
shot dead during the shoot-out with police. He has been identified as
35-year-old Mohamed Belkaid.
Belgian federal prosecutor Thierry Werts said Belkaid was an Algerian who was living in Belgium illegally.
He added that an Islamic State flag, a
Salafist Muslim book and a Kalashnikov assault rifle were discovered in
the suspect's home.
Police have detained two men, one of
whom was admitted to hospital near Brussels with a broken leg, and are
assessing whether they were connected to the shooting.
Belgian media reported one of the suspects was detained on Tuesday night, while the other was arrested early today.
Police came under fire the moment the flat's door was opened by security forces during Tuesday's search.
Five hours later, officers stormed the building and the suspect was killed.
Some reports said the suspect was "neutralised" after being spotted in a nearby garden by a police helicopter.
Witnesses reported a heavy exchange of fire lasting several minutes.
People in two schools and two nurseries
nearby were asked to remain indoors and the security cordon around the
area was extended, the local mayor's office said.
The incident happened across the street
from an Audi car plant and train lines leading to the Gare du Midi
railway station, where trains run to London and Paris.
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