Suspected attacker shot and killed at Brussels station

Belgian authorities have said they foiled a "terror attack" when soldiers shot and killed a suspect after a small explosion at Brussels train station.

Federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said soldiers "neutralized" a male suspect at the Central Station immediately after the explosion there on Tuesday night.

Prosecutor's spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch confirmed his death early on Wednesday and said no other explosives were found on his body.

Some Belgian media had reported earlier that the suspect was wearing a bomb belt.



Van der Sypt said no one else was injured in the explosion that took place at 8.30pm.

Authorities set up a wide perimeter around the station, located near the city's famed Grand Place square.

Nicolas Van Herreweghen, who works for Belgium's national rail company, said the male suspect was very agitated, yelling about jihadists and then "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "God is great," before blowing up something on a baggage trolley.

He said the man appeared to be 30 to 35 years of age.

The government agency that owns Belgium's railways was warned by a train driver who saw people running across the rail lines inside the station, spokesman Arnaud Reymann told broadcaster RTL.

Belgium has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people on the Brussels subway and at an airport on March 22, 2016.
STV NEWS REPORTS