Police use water cannon as youth protests turn violent in Brussels

Police in Brussels used water cannon and tear gas after spontaneous youth protests turned into clashes on Saturday, with some demonstrators breaking through a police line as they marched towards the headquarters of French-speaking party MR, Belgian news agency Belga reported.

No demonstration had been officially announced in the city. Young people gathered in the centre and began marching towards the party’s offices, where riot police blocked their route. Belga reported that some got past the police line; the available account gives no figures for arrests or injuries.

The unrest comes after weeks of protests and riots in France spread to several Belgian cities, including Brussels and Liège. Belgian authorities had feared further disorder after large demonstrations were announced in neighbouring France for Saturday. VRT reported that some shopkeepers in Brussels boarded up their windows as a precaution.

A previous report on clashes in Brussels and Paris described police using tear gas and water cannon during protests earlier this month.