A former cellmate of Benjamin Herman, who carried out the attack in Liege last month in which two police officers and a passer-by were killed, has warned of further attacks planned for the city. Fouad Benanne, who is considered to have played a role in the radicalisation of Herman, was arrested in Verviers on Wednesday for breaching the conditions of his release on bail. Herman, meanwhile, was killed by police and later buried in a Christian ceremony, despite his attack being claimed by ISIS.
On Tuesday, the day before his arrest, Benanne had warned of new attacks in Liege, in an interview with a journalist from De Morgen. Investigators, on the other hand, think Herman’s act may have been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Armed with a knife, he first wounded the two female police officers, then stole their service weapons and shot them dead. He then took aim at a random passer-by, who was also fatally wounded. The civilian and police victims were buried in Vottem and in Liege earlier this week (photo).
“There will be more attacks here in Liege,” he told the paper. “I don’t care if I end up in jail for saying this, but it’s going to happen. Do I think so? I know so. Tonight. The soldiers of Islamic State are on their way.” The newspaper’s reporters telephoned the police regarding the threat, immediately after a drunken Benanne had broken off the interview and left. Contrary to Benanne’s declaration of certainty, no incident took place in Liege or elsewhere that evening.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
