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Police injured and shops looted in Brussels football riot
Brussels police have appealed on social media for photos and videos that could help identify the rioters who trashed the city centre on Saturday night.
Violent clashes broke out around the Bourse after hundreds of people gathered to celebrate Morocco's qualification for next summer's football World Cup. Initial reports suggest at least 60 people were involved in the riots - torching cars, smashing shop windows with cobblestones, looting businesses and damaging the temporary structures being built for the city's Christmas market.
Local and federal officers were patrolling the Bourse area from 20.00 and according to media reports, business owners affected by the looting have accused police of being too slow to intervene. Other witnesses accused police of provocation, with one telling RTL: "Suddenly the police began to charge while the atmosphere was peaceful." Police used water cannon to attempt to disperse the crowd.
A police spokesman said: "We were surprised by the intensity and speed with which businesses were looted. Whenever there is a football match - Turks, Italians, no matter which country wins - we are prepared for that. But this was exceptional."
Some 22 officers were injured in the clashes. Police say any passers-by with images of the riots and looting can email them to zpz.polbru.info@police.belgium.eu and anyone who suffered damage to property can call a 24-hour helpline on 02 279 79 09.
Brussels mayor Philippe Close described the riots as "unacceptable" and praised police for acting "with professionalism". He said: "Identifying the perpretators is a priority. We must strongly sanction those responsible." Prime minister Charles Michel praised "the work of the security forces who reacted with the necessary calmness".
Interior minister Jan Jambon condemned the "unacceptable violence" on Twitter, adding: "Living together means respect, also for the police who are committed to our safety day and night." He has asked the inspector-general of the federal police to begin an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the violence - and the lack of arrests. Police trade unions have also called for an urgent meeting to discuss what happened.
Photo: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belga
Comments
No arrests were made, but the authorities stated they would find the violent rioters/looters by using photos. Now they are appealing to the public who was there to send them photos.
Not very reassuring at all imo.
Since I live in the city centre, yesterday I went looking for signs of damage after the dramatic news reports. In front of the Bourse, no damage, the Christmas Market huts that had been assembled are untouched, those waiting to be assembled still in their neat piles. Going south on Boulevard Anspach no damage anywhere except that the metal construction fences around the underground entrances were moved and bent. Place Fontainas no damage. Boulevard Lemmonier between Fontainas and Place Anneesens no damage. finally four blocks south of Place Anneesens the ONE looted store. There's a small store across the boulevard that might have been looted but it looks more like restoration work in progress.
Having lived through the LA Riots I expected things to be much less dramatic than the news reports (as was the case there though of course, there there was real substantial damage) and I wasn't disappointed.
Brussels needs to vastly increase the installation of CCTV and facial recognition equipment. Also, private individuals should be allowed to install and use CCTV. This is NOT an invasion if privacy bur protection and for use in the legal system if necessary.