Brussels education protest ends in clashes near Midi station
A Brussels demonstration over education measures, austerity and police conduct began peacefully before clashes near Midi station. Hundreds had marched from Central Station. Barricades, projectiles and police use of tear gas and water cannon followed; detentions and damage spread into surrounding streets. Several metro stations and surface transport services were disrupted during the unrest.
Geopolitics··Evening
A peaceful march reaches the Midi confrontation
Between 500 and 600 people gathered near Central Station in Brussels, Belgium’s capital, on Saturday before marching towards Midi station. The protest concerned education measures, austerity and police conduct. Students were joined by teachers, trade union activists, parents and workers. Police said no authorization request had been submitted initially, but the procession was allowed to proceed after discussions with participants.[1], [2]
Near Midi, journalists from Belgian broadcaster RTBF saw demonstrators turn construction fences into barricades and throw projectiles at police. Officers deployed water cannon and tear gas, then charged the crowd. Police had prevented the march from moving farther beyond the Esplanade de l’Europe outside the station. The initially peaceful demonstration was followed by confrontations in nearby streets.[1], [2]
Barricades and damage spread through surrounding streets
Confrontations and pursuits extended into Anderlecht, a Brussels municipality. Some groups were surrounded near Square Albert I and individual participants were removed from the crowd and detained. Shared bicycles and scooters were burned or incorporated into barricades. Rubbish bags were set alight and construction material was damaged around Boulevard Lemonnier and Avenue de Stalingrad, two Brussels thoroughfares.[1]
An overturned shared car and broken windows at the Brussels Socialist Party federation’s offices were among the reported damage. Police also described three burning vehicles at Place de la Querelle, a square in Brussels, while saying the fires’ origin remained undetermined. Further clashes reached Central Station, Place de l’Albertine and the Bourse area. Several people suffered injuries, without a final overall injury total.[1], [2]
Transport is interrupted as police receive reinforcements
Several Brussels metro stations closed entirely or partly at police request. Bus and tram services were interrupted as unrest continued through the city centre. Brussels police reported around ten detentions during the day. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the disturbances and said federal police were assisting local officers. He pledged to use the means needed to restore order.[1], [2]
The Brussels gathering formed part of protests that also brought people into the streets in Liège, another Belgian city. From Midi, the confrontations moved across several central neighbourhoods before calm returned in the evening. Participants’ education and economic demands had drawn a mixed crowd, while the subsequent police operations affected both the march and transport routes around its path.[2]
