Belgium 'Suicide' Crash in front of Royal Palace Leaving 8 Police Injured

Eight Belgian police motorcycle escorts have been injured after a car ploughed into them outside the royal palace in what officials say was a suicide attempt.

The officers were waiting to escort the Qatari ambassador from the palace in Laeken when the car drove into them, a palace official said.

The envoy was meeting King Albert II inside the building at the time.

Police spokesman Christian De Coninck said the unidentified driver, who has been detained, told officials he wanted to commit suicide.

Brussels mayor Freddy Thielemans said the incident was not terrorism-related.

He told RTL television: "I can understand that someone wants to commit suicide, but by killing or trying to kill eight people is beyond my understanding."

The policemen and their motorcycles were parked outside the gates of the Laeken palace, a sprawling wooded compound on the outskirts of Brussels, when they were hit.

Officials said eight officers were injured, five of them seriously. One is reported to be in a critical condition. Read More