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“We have been informed by the federal prosecution that an inquiry had immediately begun for attempted terrorist murder”, Michel said at a press conference, posted online by broadcaster RTBF.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Sunday “preliminary indications” suggest the attack was an act of terrorism, and the Belgian prosecutor described the man as an Algerian with a criminal record.
The prime minister spoke to reporters following an emergency meeting with top Belgian law enforcement officials Sunday morning.
Belgium’s unit for terror threat analysis coordination said it would keep the alert level unchanged at level three on a scale of four, meaning an attack is viewed as “possible and likely”.
Belgium and its capital Brussels, which houses European Union institutions and the headquarters of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, are now on a security alert level of three out of a maximum four, denoting a “possible and probable” threat.
The attacker was shot by police and subsequently died of his wounds.
The incident took place on Saturday outside the main police station in the city of Charleroi, around 60 kilometres (40 miles) south of Brussels.
ISIS has a history of claiming responsibility for attacks by people who are not directly affiliated with the terror group but just motivated or inspired by them.
They identified the attacker only by the initials K.B. and said he had lived in Belgium since 2012. The assailant slashed at two policewomen, leaving one with “deep wounds to the face”, according to the Belga news agency.
The prime minister said it was important to be “extremely prudent” in jumping to conclusions.
Islamist bombers killed 32 people in suicide attacks in Brussels in March.
However, extra security measures will be introduced to protect police officers, Michel said.
Both officers are “out of danger”, Charleroi police said Saturday evening on Twitter.
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The attack happened at 4pm yesterday afternoon outside a police station in the southern city. Numerous perpetrators of the November 13 carnage in Paris that killed 130 people were also residents of Belgium.
