Gun and grenades horror at festive fair

Prosecutor Danielle Reynders said a 15-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl, and a 75-year-old woman were killed. At least 75 people were wounded, including a two-year-old girl, who is in critical condition.

The attack took place at around noon on Saint-Lambert square, near a busy Christmas market and which is home to the town’s courthouse.

In the initial chaos reports said up to three men had taken part but the Interior Ministry later confirmed only one was involved, adding the incident was not terrorism-related.

Prosecutors said the gunman, named in reports as Nordine Amrani, had a criminal record involving guns, drugs and sex offences. He was on his way for police questioning when he launched the attack.

Men, women and children fled down the streets of the city centre – some still carrying shopping bags, as ambulances and police descended on the area, and local residents were warned to stay indoors.

All traffic was told to leave the city centre and all shops in the area were closed, some with customers still inside. Police helicopters flew over the city and a medical post was set up in the courtyard of the palace of the Prince Bishops court house located on the site where cobblestones were spattered in blood. Emergency medical teams were called in from as far away as the Netherlands.

The Place Saint-Lambert and the Place du Marche host a famous Christmas market which attracts 1.5 million visitors a year.

Eye witness Herve Taveirne said: “We were in the courthouse building and were just leaving when we saw someone toss a grenade.

“I grabbed a little boy ... and took him back into the courthouse. Outside the building I heard shooting ... Our lives were in danger.

“This man was shooting in any direction. We ran for our lives at that point.”