A priest has been stabbed in his own home by an asylum seeker he allowed in to use his shower – according to local prosecutors.
The priest – named locally as 65-year-old Jos Vanderlee – suffered injuries to his hands during the incident in Lanaken, Belgium.
Public Prosecutor of Limburg Coppin Bruno said the attack happened at around 2.40pm local time (1.40pm UK time) but have stressed they do not believe it was terror-related.
Prosecutors say the suspect had knocked on the priest’s home to ask for a shower and help.
After the shower the man allegedly asked for money and stabbed the priest when he said no.
An investigation has been launched but authorities have stressed they do not believe the incident is linked to terrorism.
The mayor of Lanake Marino Keulen, said: “Despite the fact that we are shocked, we must stress that this incident can not be linked to terrorist acts at this stage of the investigation.”
Last week, 85-year-old priest Jacques Hemel was knifed to death by ISIS extremists at a church in Normandy, France.
Teenage knifemen Adel Kermiche and Abdel Malik Nabil Petitjean, both 19, stormed the church and took five hostages before slashing the elderly priest’s throat at the altar on Tuesday.
The pair had recorded a video pledging allegiance to ISIS and the terror group later claimed responsibility for the attack.
