Brief

Thousands join anti‑austerity rally in Brussels as police clash with troublemakers

Police deployed tear gas and water cannon after a minority of demonstrators attacked officers near Brussels Central station.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:42:21 GMT

On Friday, between 30,000 and 50,000 people marched from Brussels Central station to Brussels South station in a protest organised by the ABVV and ACV trade unions against the Belgian government's austerity plan, Al Jazeera reported.

Police said a separate group of "troublemakers" threw wooden beams, glass bottles and rubbish bins, prompting riot police to respond with tear gas, water cannon and baton charges. The Belgian Times described the clashes as occurring on the sidelines of the main rally near the central station.

Al Jazeera's Rosie Birchard noted an acrid smell of burning from fires set during the protests and said emergency services were repeatedly called to disperse flare‑ups. She added that some young participants cited inspiration from recent French school protests and expressed frustration over education policies.

The protest follows a week of tension in Liège, where authorities banned gatherings after student‑police clashes that left dozens of officers injured and more than 200 arrests.

Key facts

Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges after a minority of protesters clashed with officers near Brussels Central station. (aljazeera.com)
The ABVV and ACV trade unions organised the march, estimating attendance at 50,000, while police counted about 30,000 participants. (aljazeera.com)
Clashes involved wooden beams, glass bottles and rubbish bins being thrown at police. (aljazeera.com)
The unrest follows recent bans on gatherings in Liège after student‑police confrontations that resulted in over 200 arrests. (aljazeera.com)