10,000 march through Brussels in support of migrants

An estimated 10,000 people marched through Brussels on Sunday in a "human wave for solidarity and humanity" towards migrants.

The demonstration, organised by the BXL Refugees collective with the support of 130 associations, set off from Maximilian park, where volunteers have been working for months to help refugees and asylum seekers.

Hundreds of tents were pitched around the park, in a symbolic action by migrants' rights campaigners to show what a Calais-style "Jungle" would look like in Brussels.

"From the beginning, informants within the police have tipped us off when they plan to carry out checks or make arrests," said Mehdi Kassou from the Citizens' Platform for the Reception of Refugees. "That shows that even within the police, some people are dissatisfied with this inhumane asylum policy.

"Instead of spending money on police raids, it would be better to invest it in a better reception for migrants. We have already made several proposals several times, but they were all rejected without debate."

Top photo: Hatim Kaghat/Belga. Second photo: Paula Dear