Belgium's Crown Princess Mathilde talks to police officers and rescuers who helped earlier in the day victims of a knife attack at a creche in Dendermonde January 23, 2009.

From (L-R) Dendermonde's Mayor Piet Buyse, Eastern Flanders provinces governor Andre Denys, Doctor Demeyer, who coordinated the rescue, and Belgium's Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck attend a news conference in Dendermonde January 23, 2009.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including two children under three, were killed on Friday when a man with a knife went on a killing spree in a nursery in a northwestern" title="a.西北的；自西北的">northwestern Belgian town, Belgian media reported.

At least 10 children and two women nursery staff members were injured in the incident in Dendermonde, some 32 kilometers northwest of Brussels, the report said. The assailant has been arrested by the police.

Eyewitnesses said that a man, whose face was painted in black and white, entered the creche at about 10 a.m. local time (0900 GMT), under the guise of asking some questions. Once inside he went to the baby section and started stabbing and slashing anyone in his path.

One child and a women employee were killed on the spot. Another child died later in hospital.

After the rampage the attacker escaped on a bicycle. A huge police operation was launched to look for the attacker, with a helicopter and hundreds of officers dispatched. The suspect was arrested at about 11.30 a.m. in a nearby village.

During the man's arrest he was injured. He was taken to hospital and interrogated by the police. The man is reportedly about twenty years old and comes from Grembergen, a village making up the municipality of Dendermonde.

Belgian Home Affairs Minister Guido de Padt arrived at the scene of the crime within a couple of hours, as did Flemish Welfare Minister Veerle Heeren. Both officials are shocked about what happened and extend condolences to the families of the victims.

Heeren said she will order a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Piet Buys, the mayor of Dendermonde, said the injured people have been taken to hospitals and the killing zone has been cordoned off.

He said those who were not injured have been brought to a central crisis center for care and counselling. "They are in deep shock and need help. We are devastated by this," he was quoted as saying.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy expressed shock at the horrible killings. "Our country is again shocked and in mourning over this atrocious act of violence in a society which longs for harmony and peaceful co-existence," he said.