Gunman flees after courtroom killings

Yesterday morning's attack came as dozens of courtrooms in the vast Palais de Justice were in session.

The building is just yards from luxurious shops in the city's top shopping area.

Witnesses reported hearing, shots somewhere in the building, which, while monitored by security staff and police, is a warren of corridors and courtrooms on several floors.

Officers sealed off surrounding streets, warning shoppers and tourists at pavement cafs to go indoors.

Hundreds more police were drafted in as the search was extended into shopping streets, the tourist-thronged antiques area and a main railway station.

Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck expressed shock, saying: "This has been a very dramatic incident. It is a tragedy. I am very shocked by what has happened."

Unconfirmed reports described the alleged killer as a man of Albanian descent, who fled on foot but was reportedly injured while escaping.

He had pulled out a gun while attending a hearing in a court dealing with domestic issues, including divorces.

The judge – whom some reports say was a woman – and the clerk were shot in the head.

"We have not ruled out family problems as the motive for what happened but nothing is clear at the moment. We are still looking for the killer," said a court official.