Crucify him: Bicycle Psycho kills infants and adults in Creche

A 20-year-old Belgian man armed with a long knife and wearing face paint killed two infants and an adult in a rampage at a creche on Friday, officials said.

The man, who had his face painted white with black around his eyes, rang the doorbell at the The Country of Fables day-care centre at about 10am.

After staff opened the door, he barged in with a 30cm-long knife and ran amok, slashing at some of the children as they lay in beds, officials said.

The suspect escaped on a bicycle but was detained nearby.

"He went straight for the babies and attacked them," Janssens said.

"The smallest ones were in their beds, they were probably asleep."

Ten children, including the two most seriously injured, and two adults underwent surgery and were out of danger, a doctor, Ignace De Meyer, told reporters.

"He quickly pulled out a knife and started using it on the children," the prosecutor added.

Six women members of staff tried to put themselves between the attacker and the children. One was hacked to death and two others were wounded in the legs or shoulders, officials said.