Brussels protest turns violent as police use tear gas and water cannon
Masked groups threw stones, built burning barricades and damaged vehicles after a large anti-austerity and student march in Brussels.
A large demonstration in Brussels turned into hours of rioting after masked groups threw stones and fireworks at police, built burning barricades and damaged vehicles, Belgian and European media reported. Police used tear gas and water cannon as disorder spread from the city centre towards Gare du Midi.
Brussels police put the main demonstration at about 30,000 participants, Polsat News reported, while organisers gave a figure of about 50,000. The march brought together trade unions protesting government austerity policies and students demonstrating over school conditions and education funding.
ANSA reported that most participants marched peacefully, but several hundred masked youths confronted police near Gare Centrale and later around Gare du Midi. Bicycles and construction material were set on fire, while cars and buses were damaged during the disturbances.
Jornal de Notícias reported at least 21 detentions in the initial unrest. A later De Telegraaf headline in the supplied material reported 110 arrests, but the supporting source text provided to ECTV does not establish that later figure, so it is not treated here as confirmed.
Police deployed water cannon and tear gas during the clashes. The disorder continued for several hours, according to ANSA, which said minors were among those detained. No confirmed casualty total was provided in the material.
The unrest followed student protests in neighbouring France and earlier disturbances in Liège. Further public demonstrations and a public-sector strike were scheduled in Belgium, but the supplied material did not report additional security measures for those events.
What we know
- A large Brussels protest developed into violent clashes with police.
- Police used tear gas and water cannon.
- Masked groups threw stones, lit fires and damaged vehicles.
- At least 21 people were detained in initial reporting.
Not yet confirmed
- A later headline reported 110 arrests, but that figure was not supported by source text supplied to ECTV.
Why it matters for Europe
The violence disrupted the centre of Brussels during a large labour and student protest and required a major police response. The event also links student unrest with broader opposition to government austerity policies.
Sources
Reported by 12 reports from 12 independent outlets in 9 countries.
- AD: Grote rellen tijdens protestdag in Brussel: politie zet traangas en waterkanon in
- ANSA: Barricate e sassaiole, scontri tra studenti e polizia a Bruxelles
- RTL Nieuws: Reljongeren laten demonstratie tegen bezuinigingen in Brussel ontsporen
- Daily Mail: Student riots spread to Belgium as hundreds of hooded protesters clash with cops sparking 'total chaos' in Brussels
- NU.nl: Traangas, rondvliegende stenen en branden: zware rellen op protestdag Brussel
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- How many people joined the Brussels protest?
- Police estimated about 30,000 participants, while organisers gave a figure of about 50,000.
- How did police respond to the riots?
- Police used tear gas and water cannon after masked groups threw stones and set barricades and vehicles alight.
- How many people were arrested?
- Initial reporting cited at least 21 detentions; a higher later figure was not supported by the supplied source text.
This article was written with AI assistance from 13 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.