Police officer shot dead and two officers injured during botched raid in Belgium as gunman opens fire from bedroom

A POLICE officer has been shot dead during a botched raid in Belgium.

Another two officers were injured after a gunman opened fire from “behind a bedroom door”, reports said.

Belgian police officers stand guard outside the house where the attack took placeCredit: EPA

A crime scene police unit inspects the house where an officer was killed during the standoffCredit: EPA

Charleroi's Attorney General Vincent Fiasse (left), Federal Police Director Eric Snoeck (center) and Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden attend a press conference following the incident — Charleroi’s Attorney General Vincent Fiasse (left), Federal Police Director Eric Snoeck (center) and Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden attend a press conference following the incidentCredit: AFP

The attack took place during a house search in Rue de L’Etang, a sub-municipality of Charleroi in the south of the country, on Monday morning.

Upon entering the premises, officers from the Directorate of Special Forces (DSU) – a highly trained tactical unit of the Belgian Federal police – found the suspect still in bed.

However, he immediately opened fire with a weapon within reach and barricaded himself in the room, leading to a standoff with officers.

It led to the entire area in the suburb of Lodelinsart being closed off.

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 reported.

The suspect was also seriously injured after officers opened fire.

He was found injured, but was taken to hospital in critical condition after his arrest, where he died from his injuries.

The search was part of an investigation into a criminal organization that deals in weapons, drugs and stolen vehiclesCharleroi Attorney General Vincent Fiasse confirmed at a press conference.

DSU officers trained and equipped to handle cases of terrorism, kidnapping, hostage-taking and other forms of serious crime had been called to conduct a search.

“The officers entered the home at 5:30 a.m. and immediately identified themselves as police officers,” Fiasse said.

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“They first saw a woman in the house, after which someone else immediately shot at the officers from behind a door.

“Three officers were hit. They were evacuated by colleagues while reinforcements were requested.

“Officers then entered behind the door, where the suspect was found injured. He is now dead.”

Eric Snoeck, interim commissioner general of the federal police, described the events as “a black day” in history.

“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, and those present for whom this must have been traumatic.”