State-run channel RTBF said unknown attackers rammed the institute’s gates with a auto at 2.30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT).
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Police have deployed in force and sealed off the area.
Some 30 firefighters helped put out the resulting fire at, which media said suffered “significant” damage but caused no casualties.
The institute works with Belgium’s justice authorities to carry out investigations.
“It goes without saying that several individuals may have wanted to destroy evidence”.
“We are clearly talking about a criminal act”, said Brussels prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Ine van wymersch.
“With a fire you get explosions, but it’s not that explosives were thrown inside or installed”, Van Wymersch added.
Suspects set fire to a lab used to analyse DNA samples found at crime scenes.
UDoes explosion of unknown origin occurred in the night between Sunday and Monday at the National Institute of Forensic and Criminology, Brussels (NCIC). She said there was no evidence of a bomb, as early media reports indicated, but the investigation was continuing, the BBC reported.
Belgium has been on high alert since Islamist attacks over the past year.
Five people were arrested nearby but were released after questioning; the police are looking for the attackers. Numerous attackers had links to Belgium.
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The metro bomber was Khalid El Bakraoui, Ibrahim’s brother.
