The body of a woman was found in a warehouse belonging to 33 year old Nordine Amrani, who shot himself after going on a killing spree in Leige yesterday. The woman, 45, was said to have worked as a cleaner for Amrani’s neighbour. The gunman apparently lured her into a warehouse he used to grow cannabis before killing her.
The finding brings yesterday’s death toll to six.
Amrani, a career criminal, was known for drug and arms offences. The shooting and grenade attacks in Leige were not terrorist related, Belgium’s federal crisis centre said.
“The enormous concern we have is how it was possible for someone seemingly sensible and normal to do this,” a spokesperson said.
“It was a delinquent; someone who had difficulties throughout their life.”
Two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, and a 75-year-old woman were among those killed immediately in yesterday’s massacre. Hours later, a 17-month-old baby, a two-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man died in the hospital. 125 more people were injured.
After the grenade and shooting attack, Amrani apparently committed suicide.
It is thought that the death toll would have been higher if bad weather and high winds had not forced Leige’s Christmas market to close early.
Liege public prosecutor Daniele Reynders said at a news conference that Amrani the motive behind the assault in Saint Lambert square, near the courthouse in Liege, remained unclear.
“It’s very difficult to determine the reasons for the attack, but we’re investigating all avenues,” the crisis centre’s Benoit Ramacker told AFP.
Yesterday, Amrani had been due to be interviewed by police in relation to a previous case, but had failed to turn up for the meeting.
In September 2008, he was jailed for 58 months when police discovered 10 firearms and 9500 gun parts along with 2800 cannabis plants in his home.
