Brussels police stabbing suspect served in the army and stood in local elections

A man accused of stabbing two police officers in Brussels in a suspected terror attack is a former soldier in the Belgian military and once ran for political office, it has emerged. Hicham Diop, 43, remains in custody following Wednesday's attack in the Belgian capital, which remains on high alert following Isis bombings targeting its main airport and a Metro station earlier this year.

The Belgian national has been charged with attempted murder "in a terrorist context" and participation in the activities of a terrorist group, prosecutors said. They did not specify which group the extremist was linked to but local reports strongly suggested inspiration from the so-called Islamic State, claiming Diop was previously known to authorities for having contact with fighters in Syria.

Investigators said he served in...