Belgian prosecutors identified the Charleroi assailant as a 33-year-old Algerian known to police for criminal offences, but not for extremism.

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The attack on is being treated as a terrorist incident, because the man shouted "Allahu akbar!" -- Arabic for "God is great" -- as he slashed at the two women officers outside Charleroi's main police station, Prime Minister Charles Michel said. Both police officers were “severely injured in the face and neck”, the federal prosecutors’ statement said.

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Broadcast media including state-owned RTBF said K.B. was in Belgium illegally despite receiving two separate orders from government authorities to leave.

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Islamic State claims responsibility for machete attack on Belgian police officers