Belgium: 5 Killed, 120 Wounded In Attack

Five people have been killed and more than 120 others wounded in an attack in the eastern Belgian city of Liege.

Belgian officials say the attacker lobbed hand grenades and fired a rifle at a bus stop in Saint Lambert Square, a busy shopping area in Liege.

The victims include two teenage boys, a seventy-five-year-old woman, and a child under two years old, who died while being treated in the hospital for injuries.

The gunman, who authorities have identified as Nordine Amrani, also died during the attack. Police have not determined how he was killed, but say it was not by police action. Witnesses said he committed suicidede.

Authorities say Amrani had been convicted in the past of drug and illegal arms possession, among other crimes. They say he has never been linked to terrorist activity, and they have not explained his motive for the attack. However, officials said Amrani but say he had been summoned for police questioning the morning of the attack.

“I am telling you that the offender was identified as Amrani Nordine,” said Danielle Reynders, Liege Prosecutor. “He was born on the 15th of November 1978. This morning he was called for police questioning. He was located on the roof of the hot spot of St. Lambert Square. He used a firearm, which was an automatic rifle and also a revolver. He threw three grenades. He is dead. Regarding the victims, the passers-by that were at St. Lambert Square at the time, unfortunately the numbers are very bad. There are at least 75 injured. What’s more serious is that there are three dead,” said Reynders.

“There’s a young man of 15 years old who died at the scene. There is another young man of 17-years-old who died at the Citadelle Hospital and finally there is a third victim, a 75-year-old woman who died at Citadelle Hospital. As for the motivation of the perpetrator, he is well known to the police, and the law – he was convicted – he is known for weapons, for buying and selling stolen goods, for drugs, for behavioral issues. But he is not in any way known for terrorist activity,”