Brussels: Tens of thousands of people protested in Brussels on Sunday against Covid-19 restrictions, several collisions with police who fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse them near the European Commission headquarters.
Rally draws around 50,000 people, said Belgium police.
It was peaceful at first as the protesters shouted and filled the streets, waving placards and balloons with slogans such as: “We want to be free again” and “no slave covid tickets”, references to vaccine trajectories needed for certain activities.
Difficulty blazing later, with a housing building of European diplomatic services and sandwich shops was broken down, said a Reuters journalist.
Police said more than 60 people were arrested, with three officers and 12 demonstrators were taken to the hospital.
Belgium announced a slight easing of Coronavirus restrictions on Friday despite recording infection, but also said people had to have booster shots after five months to stay past for bars, cinemas, and many other public spaces.
Anti-dictator is not an anit-vaxxer “I’m angry about extortion carried out by the government,” said Protester Caroline Van Landuyt, who was vaccinated.
His children do not want to be inoculated but have to travel and play sports, he said.
The week’s scene in the Belgian capital reminded the clashes last November, when around 35,000 protesters took to the streets of Brussels and there were also violence.
UE Foreign Policy Head Josep Borrell thanked the police and condemned “destruction and violence that did not make sense” in a tweet that showed him standing in front of the damaged glass panel.
Some protesters released fireworks when the police advanced to the park.
Riot officers rang water cannon.
“I’m not an anti-vaxxer, I’m anti-dictator,” read other placards.
Belgium faces the fifth wave of Covid-19 infection, with its peak is not expected at least for several weeks.
About 89% of Belgian adults are fully vaccinated and 67% have now received booster shots.