Violent clashes erupt in Brussels as anti-austerity protest turns chaotic

Tens of thousands marched in Brussels demanding relief from higher living expenses and austerity measures, but a faction of masked protesters turned violent at the central railway station, hurling rocks, firecrackers and igniting several fires, including a pile of shared bikes and electric scooters. Riot police countered with tear gas, water cannons and baton assaults, forcing the agitators to retreat and halting traffic and transit across the city.

Police indicated the troublemakers were unrelated to the main anti-austerity rally, which attracted roughly 30,000 participants. The unrest follows a week of tension in Liège, where a ban on gatherings led to student-police clashes, over 200 arrests and numerous officer injuries. Union representatives emphasized that their supporters, dressed in red or green, marched peacefully through the city centre. One participant, single mother and social worker Marie Gobert, expressed anxiety over rising school fees and transport costs, highlighting growing social strain.