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BELGIAN POLICE USED water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters in Brussels today after most demonstrators marched peacefully to protest against tightened Covid-19 restrictions designed to counter a surge in coronavirus infections.
Thousands of people gathered to reject the new measures announced on Friday, the third week in a row that the government has tightened its rules as an avalanche of new cases strains the country’s health services, depriving people with other life-threatening diseases of treatment.
Shouting “Freedom! Freedom!” and carrying banners that said, “United for our freedom, rights and our children”, protesters marched to the European Union headquarters. Some also carried signs critical of vaccines and against making vaccination mandatory.
The main crowd in today’s mostly peaceful march had already dispersed when about 100 protesters ran into a riot police barricade cordoning off access to the European Commission.
After a brief stand-off with police, protesters threw rubbish and other objects, including a bicycle, at police and set off firecrackers and flares.
Police used water cannons and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced on Friday that day care centres and primary schools would close for the holiday a week early, and that children must wear masks from the age of six. Indoor events would only be allowed with a maximum of 200 people.
The government previously closed nightclubs, and ordered bars and restaurants to shut at 11pm for three weeks. Speculation had been rife that closing times would be brought forward to 8pm but ministers decided against it.
According to the latest coronavirus figures, the EU nation of 11 million appears to have reached a plateau.
On a weekly average, 17,862 new daily cases were reported in Belgium, a rise of 6% compared to the previous week. Hospital admissions rose 4%. More than 3,700 people are in hospital with the virus, 821 of them in intensive care. More than 27,000 people with the virus have died in Belgium since the outbreak began last year.
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The french are dead right,when the goverment they voted in won’t listen to them,they go and show their frustration,what’s wrong with that?pity us folks over here would rather complain about it via messages on the journal and the likes rather than actually go do something physical about something that we are not happy about.
@i.Have.it.Me.: All the government are trying to do is bring pensions into the 21st century. Don’t understand.
@i.Have.it.Me.: So it is great to burn cars and public and private property if you cannot get your way! We need strong government at times to rule for the good of the country. Otherwise we end up with anarchy.
Water reservoirs? Jesus, tough crowd.
I am just glad people stopped that disgusting stereotype of French people loving a good auld riot or strike its completely uncalled for.
Meanwhile in Ireland Gardai gets pushed at protest headline news.
@GreenFlag: I don’t think it’s a stereotype any more
Is France becoming ungovernable? A free-for-all do what you like country?
@Johnny Kelly: wee
We are living in the endgame
Some of the biggest protests we done here was for the water charges,what happened with that?we got away with it,just threats of bringing it in,in the future.
Ummm you can report on France protests … but not any stabbings taking place around the country in Ireland ,in the immigration centres namely courtown Wexford what a disgrace .. your silence is treacherous these people are ruining our country and no reports on it, allowing all the so called refugees to feel invincable ..why are they just all males violent males no women or children in these centres !! STOP COVERING IT UP DO YOUR JOB
Terrorists, this project is necessary. They are a terrorist organisation supported by LFI and other extremists.
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