Brussels police throw water cannon, tear gas in protest against COVID Reuters

By Johnny Cotton

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters near the European Commission headquarters on Sunday after a violent protest involving about 50,000 people took part in a crackdown on COVID-19.

Although Belgium announced on Friday it had slightly lowered its coronary antivirus restrictions, despite a record infection, the government also said people should have booster shots within five months to maintain COVID-19 passes to enter bars or cinemas.

Passages that are mandatory for anyone who wants to enter many restaurants, museums or other public spaces have created fierce opposition among some Belgians.

In scenes reminiscent of similar clashes last November, when about 35,000 protesters took part in peaceful but then violent protests, some streets in the Belgian capital were soon filled with tear gas.

A building with a European diplomatic service and a sandwich shop was demolished, a Reuters witness said.

Some of the protesters were thrown fireworks when the police approached a nearby park, where the large groups of Manifesters gathered, surrounded by official water cannons, wore hids, helmets and hids.

One protester, standing on a stage, told the others to raise their hands, saying that the demonstrators would not give up.

“I am outraged at the blackmail that the government is doing, especially for young people but for everyone, but especially for young people, they are really blackmailing everyone because they have to go for the vaccine,” said Caroline van Landuyt. He was vaccinated against COVID-19, he said.

Belgium is in the midst of a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections, and the peak is not expected for at least a couple of weeks. About 89% of Belgian adults are fully vaccinated and 67% have now received a booster.

“I was very angry because my kids had to get vaccinated. They want to travel, they want to do sports competitions, and they can’t do it without vaccination, but they don’t want to. It’s just blackmail.” he added.