Brussels police step up presence at Christmas market in wake of riots

There will be more police presence at the Brussels Christmas market this year than originally planned because of the recent riots in the centre of the city where much of the market takes place. Police spokeswoman Ilse Van De Keere confirmed the information to Bruzz.

Winter Wonders runs until 31 December. “Because of the incidents over the last two weeks, we have increased the police presence at Winter Wonders,” said Van De Keere.

On 11 November, football fans, who had gathered in front of the Bourse to celebrate Morocco’s victory over Ivory Coast and qualifying for World Cup, began to loot shops and overturn cars. Some 22 police officers were injured in the ensuing clash.

A few days later, hundreds of youth showed up in the nearby Place de la Monnaie when French rapper Vargasss92 announced via Snapchat that he would give a free concert the same day. He had no permit, and when the police arrived, the crowd began to break windows and vandalise cars.

The police also confirmed that they have taken precautions against terrorism such as the placement of obstacles to avoid vehicles being able to drive into the market areas and the use of transparent garbage bags rather than bins.

Photo: Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA