A POLICE officer has been shot dead during a botched raid in Belgium.
Two more cops were injured after a gunman opened fire from “behind a bedroom door”, according to reports.
EPABelgian police officers stand guard outside the house where the attack took place[/caption]
EPAA police crime scene unit inspects the house where an officer was killed during the stand-off[/caption]
AFPCharleroi’s King Prosecutor Vincent Fiasse (left), Federal Police director Eric Snoeck (middle) and Belgium’s Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden attend a press conference following the incident[/caption]
The attack took place in Rue de L’Etang, a sub-municipality of Charleroi, Wallonia, on Monday morning, during a house search.
Upon entering the property, officers of the Directorate of Special Forces (DSU) found the suspect still in bed, where he immediately opened fire on them with a weapon that was in reach.
The suspect then barricaded himself inside the room, leading to a stand-off with officers.
One officer, 36, was killed, a second, 33, is in critical condition, and a third, 34, was injured but his life is not in danger, local media report.
The suspect also suffered serious injuries after officers opened fire.
He was found injured but, after being arrested, was taken to hospital in critical condition where he died from his injuries.
The search was part of an investigation into a criminal organisation that trades weapons, drugs and stolen vehicles, public prosecutor of Charleroi, Vincent Fiasse, confirmed in a press conference.
DSU officers, part of a highly trained tactical unit of the Belgian Federal Police, had been called to carry out a search at the house.
The specialised force are trained and equipped to handle cases of terrorism, kidnappings, hostage taking and other forms of serious crime.
“The officers entered the house at 6:30 am and immediately identified themselves as police officers,” Fiasse said.
“They first saw a woman in the house, after which someone else immediately fired at the officers from behind a door.
“Three officers were hit. They were evacuated by colleagues, while reinforcements were requested.
“Officers then penetrated behind the door, where the suspect was found injured. He has since been dead.”
Eric Snoeck, interim commissioner general of the federal police, described the death of a police officer as “a black day”.
“Like every morning, our people got up early this morning. One of them is not returning home,” he said.
“We are thinking of his family, his colleagues, to those present for whom this must have been traumatic.”