Man who stabbed police in metro sentenced

A man who stabbed two police officers and attempted to stab a third has been sentenced to 17 years in prison by a court in Brussels. Brahim Bahrir, 35, had travelled to Brussels from Paris after hearing of protests following a police identity check of a woman wearing a burqa in Molenbeek. The attack took place in Beekkant metro station. The injuries were not serious. The court heard how Bahrir had claimed to be a warrior who had come to Brussels to fight a holy war. As well as the treatment of women in Arab dress, he told police, he also intended to call for the expulsion of infidels from Afghanistan. He was sentenced on three counts of attempted murder. Fouad Belkacem, leader of the extremist group Sharia4Belgium who organised the original protests, was recently sentenced to 18 months for inciting hatred.