Police throw water cannon, tear gas at Brussels’ COVID protest | Coronavirus pandemic News

Tens of thousands are taking part in demonstrations against COVID restrictions as the Omicron variant feeds a new wave of infection.

Police shot water cannons and crying gases to scatter near the European Commission’s headquarters in Brussels after becoming a violent protest against Covid-19 restrictions.

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.

They have mandatory season tickets for anyone who wants to enter restaurants, museums and many other public places he aroused fierce opposition among some Belgians.

In scenes reminiscent of similar clashes last November, when about 35,000 protesters began peacefully but then became violent as they took part in demonstrations, some streets in the Belgian capital were soon filled with tear gas on Sunday.

Some protesters threw fireworks as police approached a nearby park, where large groups of protesters gathered. Officers wearing body armor, helmets and incident shields surrounded the water cannon.

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

“I am outraged by 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 need to get vaccinated,” said Caroline van Landuyt. They were vaccinated against COVID-19.

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 per cent of adults in Belgium are fully vaccinated, and now 67 per cent have also received a booster.

“I was very angry that my children had to be vaccinated. They want to travel, they want to do sports competitions, and they can’t do it without vaccines, but they don’t want to, it’s just blackmail, ”he added.

RTL News reported that masked protesters had broken a glass entrance into the office of the European Union’s foreign policy agency.

European Omikron wave

The wave of infections caused by the highly contagious variant Omicron of the coronavirus of protest is causing record-breaking infections across Europe.

Organizers called for the World Demonstration for Freedom and the European Union for Freedom to come from other EU countries, among others.

The flags of Poland, the Netherlands, France and Romania could be seen in the crowd.

“What has been happening since 2020 has allowed people to wake up with corruption,” said Francesca Fanara, who traveled from Lille in northern France. “I’ve come to march together.”

“It’s a health dictatorship,” said Portuguese Adolfo Barbosa. “It’s heartwarming to see these people here.”

The EU health agency said on Friday that it had become a major variant circulating in the Omicron block and in some surrounding countries.