Brussels- The parents of the Belgian man accused of killing two toddlers and a carer in a knife attack on Friday wanted to put him in psychiatric care two years ago, local media reported Tuesday.

The parents of Kim De Gelder, 20, wanted to place him in an institution because of "strange behaviour," including the claim that he was hearing voices in his head, the Belga news agency wrote, quoting De Gelder's lawyer, Jaak Haentjes.

But the request was denied because De Gelder was already undergoing treatment for depression, and therefore had no need of residential care, Haentjes said.

On Monday evening Haentjes told the media that his client had "no memory" of Friday's attack, in which he is accused of talking his way into a day-care centre in the Eastern Flemish town of Dendermonde and attacking the toddlers and staff with a knife.

He also said that De Gelder "understands that he has done something inhuman" and "says that he feels regrets," and that his client would cooperate with investigators.

But he said that the young man denied any involvement in the killing of a 73-year-old woman in the Flemish town of Beveren on January 16, as media had speculated on Monday.

The creche attack, which left 12 people injured and three dead, shocked Belgian public opinion. On Sunday, an estimated 7,000 people marched through Dendermonde in memory of the victims. The country's top politicians attended a vigil at the creche on Monday. (dpa)