Youth-led protests in Liège and Brussels spark police clashes and street blockades

Approximately 250 individuals, predominantly youths, gathered at Liège's Guillemins station on Saturday morning to protest austerity measures and recent reforms affecting education, public services and social inequality. After a calm march toward the city centre, they paused at Place Saint-Lambert before proceeding to the Cadran quarter, where they blocked traffic and prevented buses from passing, chanting anti-police slogans.

Meanwhile in Brussels, a crowd of about one hundred, including teachers and union members, convened near the Central station and later moved onto the Boulevard de l'Empereur toward Brussels-Midi after receiving official permission. Police deployed in large numbers, conducting searches and eventually using water-cannon and tear-gas as protesters erected barricades with construction grids and set fire to shared-mobility devices.

Several arrests were made, and the unrest spread through streets of Anderlecht before police contained the groups at Place Albert Ier. The demonstrations reflected broader discontent with government spending priorities, especially on defence, and highlighted growing frustration among students and workers.