Gun and Grenade Attack in Belgium

The situation is still fluid and therefore details a bit murky. There were four attackers, There was one attacker. Shots fired, no shots fired. The attacker is dead. They don't know who the attacker is.

And, of course, there is no tie to terrorism.

Tell that to the dead and wounded.

BBC:

Deadly attack rocks central Liege in Belgium

A gun and grenade attack in the centre of the Belgian city of Liege has killed at least four people and wounded 64 including a toddler, media say.

A man in his 40s threw grenades into a crowded square from a rooftop before killing himself, reports say.

The attacker, who was named as Nordine Amrani, was said to be attempting to escape from custody.

Earlier reports said at least two more men were involved, but city officials said the attacker acted alone.

The public prosecutor said terrorism was not a cause.

Amrani was jailed for 58 months in September 2008 for possessing firearms, media reports said.

TV images showed blood splattered across the cobblestones of Place Saint Lambert, where the attack happened.

Doctors at a city hospital are trying to save the life of an 18-month-old boy injured in the attack. At least six others are reported to be in a serious condition.

Medical staff are also said to be attending to some of the injured in the courthouse.

Greg Lenco, a journalist at local newspaper La Meuse-Liège, described the scene.

"We saw four explosions. I was in a building 200m from Saint Lambert Square," he said.

"It was quite incredible. We saw one man on the roof who tried to kill people. This man killed himself with a grenade."

Roads into the centre were sealed off but vehicles are now coming back into the city. Police helicopters are hovering overhead and explosives experts have gone to investigate the scene.

People were initially told to stay in buildings but are now returning to the streets.

Place Saint Lambert is a busy intersection, served by hundreds of buses daily. It hosts an annual Christmas market which attracts some 1.5 million visitors a year.

The Telegraph:

Belgium grenade attack leaves at least two dead
At least two people have been killed and up to 47 others wounded when up to four grenades exploded outside the main courthouse in the eastern Belgian city of Liege.

By Our Foreign Staff

12:36PM GMT 13 Dec 2011

The attack took place around noon on Saint-Lambert square, home to the town's courthouse and located near a busy Christmas market, Belga news agency said.

A two-year-old child is reportedly fighting for life in hospital. Six other victims are said to be gravely injured.

One of two or more assailants threw stun grenades into the courthouse while another was hurled at a bus shelter, RTL-TV1 said.

Shots were fired across the square by gunmen posted on the rooftop of a bakery shop, with further shots heard later from across town.

Police cordoned off the square and gave chase to the assailants, one of whom was reportedly killed. The gunmen are thought to be hiding in Liege cathedral.

Gaspard Grosjean, a journalist for La Meuse Liege on the scene, told The Daily Telegraph there was panic and confusion on the streets of Liege.

"There is at least one dead and the attacker. Police are looking for another shooter. There are lots of ambulances and many casualties - at least 10 people.

"At the moment you can't move in the city centre. People are crying and in shock - they do not know what is going on. Everyone has been told to stay inside and are hiding in shops."

Local bus operator TEC said that its buses were no longer able to enter the city centre. A museum located on the square said it had taken in injured people.

"As we are very close and we have an open space where you can enter and leave with no problem. I can say there were injured, but don't ask me if it's five, seven, eight or nine. I don't know," said Archeoforum director Jean-Jacques Messiaen.

Police were not immediately contactable to confirm the toll or events.