Frenchman charged with driving car into Antwerp crowd

Belgian authorities have charged the Frenchman who drove his car at high speed through a busy shopping area in Antwerp with terror-related offences.

A police inspector searches around a car near the river in Antwerp. (Joris Herregods via AP)

The Federal prosecutor’s office said today that Mohamed R., 39, was charged with “attempted murder in a terror context,” and infractions against the gun law.

After driving through the busy Meir shopping road on Thursday, he was arrested at the port docks. No one was injured.

In the car, authorities found knives, a shotgun and a gas can with an unknown liquid.

An official at the prosecutor’s office said the suspect “was under the influence” but refused to elaborate whether it was drugs or alcohol.

Authorities immediately raised security in the centre of Antwerp.