The Guardian reports that this was a murder-suicide: the attacker (reported by authorities as being one Nordine Amrani): threw grenades and fired an automatic rifle, murdering three people, then killed himself. Prayers for the innocent victims and their families/loved ones, of course.
If you’re wondering about the name, it appears to be Mediterranean/North African in origin. Not specifically Muslim, although the Guardian is falling all over itself to try to warn of “the risks of journalists rushing to speculate in incidents such as this.” Which is actually not bad advice – this guy sounds like he might have been an apolitical druggie that went psychotic – but it makes you wonder what the Guardian knows that it isn’t telling. Or whether it itself rushing to speculate, based on the last name.
Earlier The Telegraph had reported that the attack was outside a courthouse and in response to a conviction for an honor killing, but this has since been revised and this bit of information removed. Whether this turned out not to be true or just politically inadvisable to talk about remains to be seen. Robert Spencer over at Jihad Watch has the earlier version and also explains that Nordine Amrani is a Muslim name.
Grenades and Automatic Rifles? Belgium’s grenade and gun laws are obviously over lax. (sarcasm).