Observers agree: the violent riots that have been shaking France for weeks, and now also the Belgian capital Brussels, have nothing to do with school and youth unrest.
Rather, they are a highly dangerous mix of mostly young male migrants and local left-wing troublemakers. Since the elements of the unrest are present in most European countries as a result of mass immigration, the protests have the potential to become a Europe-wide conflagration.
On Friday, the unrest spread from France to its northern neighbor, Belgium. In Brussels, masked youths clashed with police in street battles, set vehicles on fire, and vandalized parts of the city center. According to official media reports, some members of the Belgian “student movement” were inspired by the protests in France.
Early in the morning, numerous youths dressed in black gathered near the central train station. Emergency responders were attacked with paving stones, glass bottles, wooden poles, and fireworks. Police deployed water cannons and tear gas. Bicycles, e-scooters, and trash cans were set ablaze, and street furniture was piled up to form barricades. A public bus burned out near the southern train station.
During searches, officers seized items including Molotov cocktails, gasoline, fireworks, a knife, and a hammer. In the afternoon, 18 people were initially arrested, including 13 minors. By evening, the number of arrests had risen significantly. Broadcaster BX1 reported approximately 80 people in police custody and about 30 further arrests as part of criminal investigations. In addition to the burned-out bus, four other buses, as well as police vehicles, a fire engine, and car-sharing vehicles, were damaged.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close demanded a thorough legal investigation. Identified perpetrators should be held accountable for the damages caused. Investigators intend to analyze videos recorded by the alleged participants themselves.
The riots occurred on the sidelines of a large demonstration against the Belgian government’s austerity policies. Police estimated the number of participants at around 30,000, while organizers claimed 50,000. The union protest itself was largely peaceful. Security officials emphasized that the violence was unrelated to the demonstrators’ demands.
The situation had already escalated in Liège, where youths attacked police officers and damaged shops during student protests. Authorities imposed a ban on gatherings. According to the Associated Press, more than 200 people were arrested during the protests.