Protests against Covid-19 vaccines and lockdowns erupt across Europe

Protests against Covid-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates have taken place across Europe as coronavirus case numbers rise.

A man walks past burning rubbish as clashes erupt during a demonstration against Covid-19 measures, including the country's health pass, in Brussels on November 21, 2021. (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

Massive protests against Covid-19 mandates and lockdowns have erupted across Europe.

Demonstrators, furious about new health measures, have gathered in Austria, Croatia, Italy, Northern Ireland, the French territory of Guadeloupe and the Netherlands to protest the moves.

Violence broke out at a protest against anti-Covid measures in Brussels on Sunday, in which police said tens of thousands of people took part.

The march began peacefully but police later fired water cannon and tear gas in response to protesters throwing projectiles, an AFP photographer witnessed.

A man walks past burning rubbish as clashes erupt during a demonstration against Covid-19 measures, including Belgium’s health pass, in Brussels on November 21, 2021. Picture: AFP

AFP also saw at least two police injured in the events, as officers in riot gear charged the crowd backed by water cannon. One protester was seen being evacuated by an ambulance near the Berlaymont, the EU headquarters.

Several of the demonstrators caught up in the clash wore hoods and carried Flemish nationalist flags, while others wore Nazi-era yellow stars.

A Belgian riot policeman runs past a fire during clashes with police. Picture: AFP)

Anti-lockdown and anti-vax protesters in Brussels. Picture: AFP

Protesters set fire to wood pallets, and social media images showed rioters attacking police vans with vandalised street signs.

About 35,000 protesters marched from the North Station in Brussels against a fresh round of Covid-19 measures announced by the government on Wednesday.

The demonstration, called “Together for Freedom”, largely focused on a ban on the unvaccinated from venues such as restaurants and bars.

The World Health Organisation said it was “very worried” about rising coronavirus cases in Europe.

Regional director Dr Hans Kluge said new measures were needed to prevent half a million more deaths in the next six months.

A man walks in front of a fire in a street of The Hague during a demonstration against the Dutch government's coronavirus measures. Picture: AFP

🇧🇪 Brussels pic.twitter.com/n3j8ZBeDmX

— Anonymous UK Citizen (@AnonCitizenUK) November 21, 2021

‘No Green pass’ protests in Italy

Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Milan and Rome to protest against the Green pass certificates, the vaccine passports required at the country’s restaurants, cinemas, theatres, stadiums, clubs, or gyms.

About four thousand unmasked protesters were seen at the Circus Maximus in Rome, chanting “Freedom” and “No Green pass,” while anti-vaxxers clashed with police at Piazza Duomo in Milan the Corriere reported.

Crowds chant ‘no to vaccination’ in Austria

Anti-lockdown protesters in Vienna also gathered to protest after the far-right opposition Freedom Party called for demonstrations and vowed to fight new Covid restrictions.

The Austrian government has ruled that vaccines are legally mandated for all who can receive one by February 1.

Protesters chanted “no to vaccination”, “enough is enough” and “down with the fascist dictatorship” and waved Austrian flags as they stream into Heroes’ Square. It didn’t take long for the crowd – which swelled to about 35,000 people by midafternoon – to clash with police.

They said there had been 10 arrests for breaches of coronavirus restrictions and a ban on Nazi symbols.

A pile of burned bikes after the protest in Rotterdam. Picture: AFP

Protesters injured in Netherlands

Seven people were injured on Saturday when Dutch police opened fire on anti-lockdown rioters who were setting streets ablaze.

Cops said they fired both “warning shots” and directly at protesters who were demonstrating against new lockdown measures in Rotterdam.

Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb called it “an orgy of violence”.

He said “on a number of occasions the police felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves,” as rioters rampaged through the central shopping district, setting fires and throwing rocks and fireworks at officers.

“They [police] shot at protesters, people were injured,” Mr Aboutaleb said.

Europe is battling another wave of infections and several countries have tightened curbs despite high levels of vaccination, especially in the west of the continent.

Belgium, one of the countries hit the hardest by the latest wave, on Wednesday expanded its work-from-home rules and strengthened curbs targeting the unvaccinated.

With an average of nearly 10,300 new infections per day over the past week, Belgium is back to a rate of spread of the virus that has not been seen for a year.

Protesters gather at the Victorian State Parliament in Melbournes CBD to protest Covid vaccine mandates. Picture: Jason Edwards

Protesters march in Melbourne Picture NCA NewsWire/Paul Jeffers

Craig Kelly spoke to protesters in Sydney on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Protests in Australia

There were also protests in Australia over the weekend, with at least 100,000 people marching through the streets of Melbourne.

Member for Hughes Craig Kelly addressed a crowd in Sydney where he compared vaccine mandates to “prison camps”.

Meanwhile, rallies were also held in Brisbane — where one protester called for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to be hanged.

Australian Government figures show at least 85.1 per cent of people aged 16 and above are double vaccinated.

– with The Sun