June 8, 2026, 10:30 p.mJune 8, 2026, 10:30 p.m
Youth protests in the Belgian capital Brussels have seen riots for the second week in a row. As a reporter from the dpa news agency reported, police used tear gas and a water cannon after rioters began damaging garbage cans and e-scooters and throwing stones and firecrackers.
There were riots in Brussels.Image: IMAGO / Anadolu Agency
With the demonstration, the participants actually wanted to protest against police violence at rallies against planned austerity measures in the education sector last week. The police also used water cannons and tear gas on some of them. In addition, officers also used batons against demonstrators. The city of Brussels has announced an investigation.
The background to the demonstrations is extensive austerity reforms by the government of the French Community of Belgium. Among other things, they provide for higher numbers of hours for upper secondary school teachers and pave the way for increasing tuition fees.
In addition to students, teachers and representatives of civil society organizations took part in the demonstration on Monday, as Belga reported. The vast majority of demonstrators – estimated at several thousand – demonstrated peacefully. (hkl/sda/dpa)