He said that the attacker then charged at soldiers while shouting "Allahu akbar", Arabic for "God is great". The man was shot by soldiers afterwards in what prosecutors are treating as a "terrorist attack".
"He was not known to the authorities for any terrorism connection", Van Der Sypt said, declining to give the man's full name while the investigation continues.
"We do not know if the man is still alive or that he is dead", Van der Sypt added.
Belgium is now at its second highest level of security alert.
Sky's Europe Correspondent Mark Stone, at the scene, said: "Authorities this morning are extremely relieved that soldiers managed to deal with what could have been a horrendous incident".
In March 2016, 32 people died in terrorist attacks on Brussels Zaventem airport and in the metro.
The man was from the Molenbeek neighborhood, the home and transit point for numerous suspects linked to attacks in Brussels and in Paris in November 2015. The incident caused panic at the station.
"He grabbed his suitcase while shouting and causing a partial explosion".
"Fortunately nobody was hurt", he added.
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"The suitcase caught fire immediately". Afterwards, the man went down to the platform, reportedly "in pursuit of the station master". There was the first explosion, then [the attacker] went away, the suitcase exploded once more, more powerfully for the second time.
The 36-year-old was carrying two explosive devices in a bag - one of which he triggered - which also contained gas canisters and nails. The soldier opened fire, killing the suspect.
No other explosives were found on his body, though several Belgian media had reported earlier that the suspect was wearing a bomb belt.
It appeared no one else was injured besides the suspect and the damage from the explosion was limited, Brussels prosecutor's office spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch told VRT.
The statement also said there are "indications that the suspect had sympathies for the terrorist organization IS (Islamic State, or ISIS)".
The Belgian capital, home to the headquarters of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union, has been on high alert since a Brussels-based Islamic State cell organised the attack that killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015.
Mr Jambon said the security will remain high at Brussels rain facilities, which means there is a serious and likely threat.
Events in Brussels including a concert by rock band Coldplay were set to continue, although authorities said there would be extra security and warned people not to bring backpacks.
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