BRUSSELS — Two police officers were injured when Belgium’s ‘most wanted’ on-the-run prisoner Nordine Ben Allal opened fire in the early hours of Friday morning.

News agency Belga said police were carrying out a routine patrol in Quai Fernand Demets in Anderlecht at about 3.52am when a car did a U-turn and drove off.

Police chased it to Rue des Quatre Vents at Molenbeek where they brought the car to a stop.

However, as officers got out of the police car, the two runaways opened fire on them. One officer was injured in his leg and a second was seriously injured in his stomach. His condition was described to be stable on Friday afternoon.

The criminals escaped and police later found the owner of the car who said the men inside it were Nordine Ben Allal  – the violent prisoner who escaped on Sunday from Nivelles prison – and another man with the first name Redouan.

The owner said Ben Allal, who went to school with his wife, had forced his way into the couple’s home, forced his wife to drive for him prior to Thursday night and had stated he intended to hide out in their attic.

 [Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news