A man armed with a knife was arrested Monday morning after apparently trying to break into the offices of the Belgian Prime Minister in Brussels, and an investigation was opened to determine his motivations and his profile, according to the authorities.
Alexander De Croo, currently at the head of a resigned government, was absent from the Chancellery at the time of the incident, which did not cause any injuries, but he is “very shocked”, according to a spokesperson, Barend Leyts. “We are very relieved that there were no injuries,” added the spokesperson.
On X, Alexander De Croo assured that he was “following the situation closely”. “I would like to warmly thank the officers of the military police for the efficiency they demonstrated this morning,” continued the Flemish liberal leader.
At 16 rue de la Loi, in front of the headquarters of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, a man “would have uttered threats against the military personnel present”, who managed to control him before the arrival of the police, explained for their part the local police.
“His motivations are not clear at the moment,” the same source continued. Police did not say whether the knife had been found.
Rue de la Loi is a major artery that crosses the Belgian capital from the European institutions district to the city center. Number 16, headquarters of the Chancellery, is one of the many official buildings in the sector (embassies, ministries and government agencies) where police surveillance is reinforced.
