The assailant, a 33-year-old Algerian national named only as KB, was shot repeatedly in the chest and legs by a third officer in the southern Belgian city.
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The attacker was shot by police and subsequently died of his wounds.
He had a criminal record but no known links to terrorism although he shouted “Allahu akbar” [God is greatest] as he began his assault. His rucksack, in which he hid his machete, …
Broadcaster VRT said Liege police had cordoned off an area before detaining the man.
They are mainly carried by asylum seekers, who had recently arrived in Europe from the Middle East or Western Asia, with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) claiming responsibility for numerous incidents.
A Belgian prosecutor said he has lived in Belgium since 2012.
Prime minister Michel said on Saturday that “preliminary indications” suggest the attack was an act of terrorism, but that authorities are still collecting information.
Belgium has been on high alert since the March 22 suicide bombings claimed by ISIS extremists that killed 32 people in Brussels.
One officer suffered deep cuts to the face in the attack, while the other received minor injuries, though neither was described as life-threatening.
Charleroi police said the attacker was killed while the two victims were out of danger. No explosives or other weapons were found. Numerous perpetrators of the attacks in Paris in November that killed 130 people were also residents of Belgium.
It said: “We confirm the death of the machete attacker”.
“We must keep a cool head”, he said.
With regard to attacks specifically on police the unit maintained a level two threat requiring “particular vigilance”.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told a press conference on Sunday that Belgium was increasing security at police stations after Saturday’s attack in Charleroi.
He said: “This was an attack that unfolded at 4pm local time in Belgium outside the police station”.
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Belgium is now on threat level three out of four, meaning a terrorist attack is “possible or probable”.
