Fireworks banned in Brussels over Christmas and New Year

All types of firework activity, including carbide shooting, will be banned from use in public areas in Brussels from 23 December to 9 January, announced minister-president Rudi Vervoort, reports RTBF.

The decision to restrict the use of fireworks follows the recent series of pyrotechnic incidents by some Moroccan football fans in the city centre when celebrating their team’s World Cup wins. Chiefs of police requested the ban in order to guarantee maximum safety for their officers during the busy holiday season.

Vervoort said in a press statement: “End-of-year festivities attract a large number of people into the city, which should take place in a secure environment for our citizens, shops and police force.” He pointed out that the ban was intended “to prevent law enforcement from falling victim to an inappropriate usage of pyrotechnics.”

The chief of the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police zone will oversee the maintenance of public order during the city’s end-of-year festivities.

Photo: New Year’s eve firework celebrations in Brussels © Belga/James Arthur Gekiere