Driver attempts to ram shoppers

BRUSSELS — Belgian authorities tightened security Thursday in the port city of Antwerp after a Frenchman drove his car at high speed through a busy shopping area, forcing pedestrians to jump out of the way.

French President Francois Hollande compared the incident to the attack in London that killed three people Wednesday, saying the Frenchman was “trying to kill people or create a dramatic event.”

The federal prosecutor’s office said the car was intercepted late Thursday morning at the port docks and police arrested a man, identified as 39-year-old Mohamed R., who has been living in France.

In the car, authorities found knives, a shotgun and a gas can with an unknown liquid. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

An official at the prosecutor’s office, who asked not to be identified because the investigation was still ongoing, said the suspect “was under the influence” but refused to elaborate whether it was drugs or alcohol.

Authorities immediately raised security in the center of Antwerp.

At first sight, the incident appeared to have the hallmarks of several extremist attacks in Europe — a vehicle in a busy area bent on mowing down pedestrians. Trucks were used last year in deadly attacks in Nice, France, and Berlin, and a sport utility vehicle was used Wednesday in London.

The high-speed event happened a day after Belgium held anniversary remembrance services for the Brussels airport and subway attacks, which killed 32 people on March 22, 2016.

Belgium has been living under the secondhighest antiterror alarm ever since. Soldiers in the busy shopping street Thursday were immediately involved in trying to control and stop the car, which was speeding away at high speed.