Islamic State claims responsibility for Brussels stabbing: Amaq

The attacker in Brussels, who wounded a soldier on Friday in what authorities said was an “attempted terrorist murder”, was shot dead.

The Islamic State news agency Aamaq has claimed the Brussels attacker who assaulted three soldiers with a knife as an Islamic State group soldier.

Policemen stand on the scene after Belgian soldiers shot a man who attacked them with a knife, in Brussels, Belgium. (REUTERS)

In a statement Sunday, it said he carried out the Friday evening attack in response to calls to target countries of the coalition that is fighting IS.

Belgian prosecutors have opened an attempted terrorist murder probe after attacker assaulted the soldiers while shouting “Allahu akbar!” — Arabic for “God is great.” He was shot dead by troops.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the man was known to police for assault charges but had no previous terror-related offenses. The suspect, a Belgian citizen of Somali origin, was also carrying a fake firearm and copies of the Quran.

IS often claims attacks by people who have no known link to the group.