EU office smashed as Covid anger erupts in Brussels

Scenes of chaos are playing out in Europe where tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police armed with water cannon and tear gas.

A demonstrator is sprayed with water cannons while clashing with police in Belgium. Picture: Valeria Mongelli/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Around 50,000 protesters marched through Brussels overnight, demonstrating against Covid-19 rules, as police fired water cannon and tear gas at some who were throwing stones and smoke bombs.

The latest Belgian protests are the largest in a series of angry gatherings held in the European country over the past few months.

Clashes broke out close to the headquarters of the European Union as police used water cannon and tear gas to push back hundreds of protesters who hurled paving stones and firecrackers.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles condemned the “senseless destruction and violence” after masked attackers smashed a glass entrance at the offices of the EU’s diplomatic service.

Officers were later forced to seek shelter in a metro station as they were pelted with metal barriers.

A demonstrator is sprayed with water cannon while clashing with police. Picture: Valeria Mongelli/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Protesters hold smoke bombs. Picture: Hatim Kaghat/Belga/AFP

Around 70 people were arrested, including a dozen for more serious offences including throwing projectiles and damaging property, police said.

Three officers and 12 demonstrators were hospitalised, but none were in a life-threatening condition.

“Freedom of expression is one of the foundations of our society. Everyone is free to express their opinion,” Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement.

“But our society will never accept indiscriminate violence, and even less towards our police forces. Those involved this Sunday will be prosecuted.”

Brussels City mayor Philippe Close tweeted that it had been a “difficult day”.

“Nothing can justify the physical attacks of which the police have been victims,” he wrote.

The demonstrators were protesting against restrictions brought in to fight the pandemic. Picture: Hatim Kaghat/Belga/AFP

Police confront demonstrators during the European Demonstration for Democracy protest Picture: Valeria Mongelli/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Omicron wave has caused infections to reach record highs across Europe. Many countries have brought in fresh restrictions as well as “vaccination passports”, restricting access to many places to those who have been fully vaccinated.

Protesters carried signs slamming De Croo and the Covid-safe ticket required in Belgium for entry into numerous venues and events.

Organisers of the action, including the World Wide Demonstration for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom, called on people to come from other EU states for the demonstrations.

Flags from Poland, the Netherlands, France and Romania could be seen in the crowd.

BRUXELLES - Le siège du Service européen pour l'action extérieure (SEAE) est dégradé par les manifestants. Tensions en cours. https://t.co/DbTrcyxKGopic.twitter.com/X3bqkvye1j

— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) January 23, 2022

De schade aan de gebouwen in een wat langere video. #brusselpic.twitter.com/ku5FHvfw62

— Owen O’Brien (@_owenobrien_) January 23, 2022

Incredible scenes of police Protecting Public Health and Keeping People Safe at today’s anti-Covid pass protest in Brussels…#NoVaccinePassport#NoVaccineMandates#NoVaccinePassportsAnywherepic.twitter.com/t7YhPSedK0

— Silkie Carlo (@silkiecarlo) January 23, 2022

“What has been happening since 2020 has allowed people to wake up to corruption,” said Francesca Fanara, who had travelled from Lille in northern France to take part in the action. “I have come to march together.”

Travelling from Portugal, Adolfo Barbosa said: “It’s a health dictatorship. It warms the heart to see these people here.”

Belgium has seen numbers surge to over 60,000 daily infections in the past week in what authorities have called a “tsunami” of cases.

But the milder Omicron variant teamed with the restrictions and the levels of vaccination – including people getting a third booster jab – means that health systems have not come under the same strain as they did during earlier waves.

On Friday, Mr De Croo announced that restaurants and bars could extend their opening hours, although nightclubs still remain closed.

Neighbouring France has said it will begin a gradual lifting of Covid restrictions from February 2 after authorities said there were “encouraging signs” that the wave of infections due to the Omicron variant was ebbing.