THE DEATH TOLL following yesterday’s gun and grenade attack in the Belgian city of Liège has risen to six.
Last night an 18-month-old child who had been injured in yesterday’s attack died from their injuries, while two teenage boys aged 17 and 15, and a 75-year-old woman, were killed by gunshot wounds yesterday.
This morning police confirmed they had also found the body of a 45-year-old woman, understood to be a neighbourhood cleaner, at a warehouse regularly used by Amrani. She had been missing for a short time.
The gunman himself, 33-year-old Nordine Amrani, also died.
The toddler, teenagers and elderly woman all died from gunshot wounds sustained when Amrani opened fire at the Place Saint-Lambert, a city square filled with shoppers attending a busy Christmas market.
He then travelled to a nearby busy bus terminal and attacked it with grenades – with Belgian media this morning saying a further 123 people had been injured on those explosions.
Last night King Albert II and Queen Paola, and new prime minister Elio di Rupo, visited the scene of the attacks to pay tribute to the victims. A minute’s silence is to be held in the city later today.
It has emerged that Amrani had previously served time in jail for drugs and firearms offences, and that he was on his way to be questioned by police investigating sexual abuse when the attack occurred.
A motive has not yet been established.
Additional reporting by AP
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