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Belgian shopping centre evacuated after robbery by men 'armed with Kalashnikovs' in Chatelineau Belgian shopping centre evacuated after robbery by men armed with Kalashnikovs in Chatelineau
(about 4 hours later)
A shopping centre in Belgium has been evacuated amid reports of gunfire from armed robbers. A gang of armed robbers are on the run in Belgium after sparking an evacuation at a shopping centre.
There were no immediate reports of injuries during the incident in Chatelineau on Saturday morning, which is not believed to be terror-related. Police said three masked men, armed with at least one Kalashnikov rifle, burst into a jewellery shop at the Cora centre in Chatelineau, sparking panic among shoppers.
Local reports said up to three gunmen attempted stole jewellery from the Cora centre before fleeing, sparking panic among shoppers. Eric de Brabander, the local poice commissioner, said “several armed individuals” fled after attacking the Histoire d'Or on Saturday morning.
"Shots were fired with a Kalashnikov," mayor Daniel Vanderlick told RTL News, adding that no one was injured. He added that the robbers did not open fire and the incident was not believed to be terror-related, with no injuries reported in the heist.
The local police commissioner Eric Debrabander said "several armed individuals" had attacked the Histoire d'Or jewellery shop. Witnesses and officials, including the local mayor, initially reported gunshots but police said the sound of display cases being smashed had been confused with gunfire.
The area was evacuated and cordoned off by security forces, with part of the shopping centre later reopening. The area was evacuated and cordoned off by security forces, with the shopping centre later reopening.
It came days after a man with a knife held 15 people hostage in a supermarket in the Brussels suburb of Forest.It came days after a man with a knife held 15 people hostage in a supermarket in the Brussels suburb of Forest.
No one was harmed in the attack, which was reported to be part of a failed robbery attempt on Tuesday.No one was harmed in the attack, which was reported to be part of a failed robbery attempt on Tuesday.
Belgium has been on high alert since November's Paris attacks, with several Isis militants preparing for the massacres in the country before members of the same terror cell attacked Brussels Airport and a Metro station in March.Belgium has been on high alert since November's Paris attacks, with several Isis militants preparing for the massacres in the country before members of the same terror cell attacked Brussels Airport and a Metro station in March.