A man has shot dead two female police officers and a civilian in the Belgian city of Liège.

The gunman also took a female cleaner hostage at a school before being killed by police. Four other officers were also injured.

The incident is being treated as an act of terrorism with reports the man was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” in Arabic.

He’s been identified by local media as a 36-year-old petty criminal and drug dealer who was let out of jail the day before the attack.

He was reportedly on an anti-terrorist police watchlist after being radicalised in jail and converting to Islam.

Officials said the man attacked the policewomen, aged 45 and 53, from behind with a knife.

After slashing the officers, the man seized their handguns and shot them both.

He then shot dead a 22-year-old trainee teacher who was sitting in a car before entering a high school and taking two female employees hostage

On reste chez soi les gars #Liege pic.twitter.com/6AVbC7t9Ae

— Antoine Rsn (@toutoun_rens) May 29, 2018