Serious unrest broke out in the Belgian capital on the evening of June 29 as migrant youngsters in Brussels used social media to organise gatherings that soon descended into violence, in scenes echoing rioting across France over the previous two nights.
Belgian police were deployed in large numbers to deal with the outbreaks in Brussels last night.
A horrified Vincent De Wolf, mayor of Etterbeek municipality in the city, tweeted: “I deplore and condemn any attempt to import into the districts of our capital the acts of urban violence that are rife in several French cities.”
Migrant youngsters took to social media to urge protestors to take to the streets. As many began to mobilise, a tense game of cat-and-mouse between them and the pursuing police broke out across the city, as rioting erupted in several areas.
The situation was most serious in Place Anneessens and the Brussels Stock Exchange, where fires were started and a number of cars were torched. Trouble was also evident around the Brussels-South railway station.
Police were present in large numbers across the city and water-cannons were deployed in several areas.
De Wolf, said: “I would like to thank the police and fire brigade who quickly restored public order this evening.”
In total, the police arrested 64 people, 47 of whom were minors, while 16 were adults. One of the youngsters picked up had already been arrested for alleged assault and injury of a police inspector. The youth was released on Friday morning after questioning.
Riots are spreading in Belgium in the Anneessens district of Brussels. pic.twitter.com/XiJDTRlPgP
— Benedetto (@lbenedetto1975) June 30, 2023
As of writing on Friday, a debriefing by police and city authorities on Thursday’s events is due to take place to discuss, among other things, what measures will be taken to prevent further violence.
As a precaution, the local public transport operator, STIB, has closed Anneessens metro station. Some bus services in the area are also being diverted after consultation with the police.
Beelden uit #Brussel. Is dit werkelijk de samenleving waar we in willen leven? Waar elke gelegenheid telkens opnieuw wordt misbruikt om keet te schoppen, voertuigen in brand te steken en rellen te veroorzaken? Dit tuig moet keihard aangepakt worden. Tijd voor recht en orde! pic.twitter.com/PGceEeCx0A
— Vlaams Belang (@vlbelang) June 29, 2023
Outraged leader of the Belgian Francophone MR party, Georges Louis Bouchez, echoed De Wolf’s sentiments: “The damage and violence that took place in Brussels can have no connection with the events in Nanterre.
“They are simply the result of some people’s stupidity and lack of civic-mindedness and education. Zero tolerance. These people should appear in court immediately and pay for the damage caused!,” he fumed.
A police union representative said on Twitter that the riots were “no surprise” and the rioters were, “as always, minors”, having “no respect”.
The serious unrest in Brussels follow events in France, where a police shooting on Tuesday evening resulted in the death of Naël, a 17-year-old driver of North African origin, leading to an eruption of violent protests. Such outbreaks have been ongoing across France ever since.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, is leaving a European Union summit in Brussels early to return to Paris for an emergency meeting over the French disturbances.
