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Fatal stabbings at Belgium creche Fatal stabbings at Belgian creche
(about 2 hours later)
At least three people have been killed in a knife attack at a creche in north-western Belgium, officials say.At least three people have been killed in a knife attack at a creche in north-western Belgium, officials say.
The Belgian interior ministry said two children and one adult died after a man attacked people at the creche in Dendermonde, north-west of Brussels. Two children and one adult died after a man ran amok at the nursery in Dendermonde, north-west of Brussels, the interior ministry said.
The ministry said the assailant had now been arrested. The man arrived at the creche with his face painted black and white and attacked the infants, before fleeing on a bicycle, local officials said.
There have been conflicting reports of the number of victims at the creche. It is thought at least 10 people have been injured in the attack. Police have arrested a suspect, who is now receiving hospital treatment.
Peter Cleymans, of the Dendermonde Ambulance Centre, told Reuters by telephone that a number of people were hurt. As well as killing three people, the attacker also injured 11 more.
"Ten, 15, 20 are injured, I don't know," he said. Three children are reported to be in a serious condition in hospital.
Flemish TV station VTM had earlier reported three children and two adults had died, but the interior ministry have confirmed only three deaths in total. One of those who died is believed to be a nursery nurse and Dendermonde's deputy mayor, Theo Janssens, said several adults had been injured as they tried to put themselves between the attacker and the children.
Local authorities have put a disaster plan in place, and children have been evacuated from the creche to a nearby reception centre. "The guy just went crazy," Mr Janssens said. "There was blood everywhere, it was unbelievable, real carnage."
The attacker was reported to have painted his face black and white, and arrived at the creche on a bicycle. The creche has been evacuated and local authorities have put a disaster plan in place.
Staff members of the daycare centre have told local journalists that the attacker was not known to them. Town 'in shock'
Nursery staff told journalists that the attacker was not known to them.
Officials said he had rung the doorbell at the nursery and told staff he needed some information.
When they opened the door, he ran in and began attacking three of the youngsters.
"He quickly pulled out a knife and started using it on the children," said local prosecutor Christian Du Four.
"He then went up to another floor and started doing the same thing again."
The prosecutor said the man's face had been smeared with a white colouring but his eyes had been blackened.
Residents told the BBC that the town was stunned by the incident.
Damien Vernon, a 43-year-old from Ireland who has lived in Dendermonde for five years, said: "It's just a sad day here, we're a small town and the crime figures are low here, we're just in shock."
Photographs
The creche looks after 18 children under the age of three.
Police have been showing parents digital photographs of the youngsters taken to hospital, asking them to identify their children.
Interior Minister Guido De Padt told a press conference he was "horrified by the events".
"Our thoughts go out to the families and staff of the creche," he said. "Many parents are in a state of shock."
The children and staff from the nursery who escaped without injury are now receiving counselling.
Flemish TV station VTM had initially reported three children and two adults had died but the interior ministry later gave the lower casualty figures.
Are you in the area near Dendermonde? Have you been affected by what's happened? Please send us your comments using the form at the bottom:Are you in the area near Dendermonde? Have you been affected by what's happened? Please send us your comments using the form at the bottom:
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