Police officer stabbed in central Brussels, police say motive unclear

There are unconfirmed reports the attacker yelled out "Allahu Akbar" during the stabbing.

Police secure the scene in downtown Brussels after the stabbing. Source: AP

A Brussels police officer has been injured in a knife attack in front of the city's main police station.

The attack took place on Tuesday, the second day of a state visit to Belgium by French President Emmanuel Macron with memories of the Paris and Brussels attacks running high.

Parts of a knife lay on the ground behind a police cordon as police investigate the scene. Source: AP

An assailant stabbed the officer outside the central police station at 5:30am, police spokeswoman Ilse van de Keere told AFP.

"A police officer was stabbed and slightly wounded" and taken to hospital, she said. 

"His colleagues retaliated by firing shots at the attacker who was subdued" but whose life is not in danger.

Police at the scene, following the attack. Source: AP

The spokeswoman refused to confirm a local media report that the attacker had cried "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) during the incident.

Later Tuesday, Macron visits the Brussels district of Molenbeek, home of Islamic State jihadists who carried out the 2015 Paris attacks that left 130 people dead.