International

Brussels: Police, protesters clash at victims’ shrine

Published

8 years ago

March 28, 2016

Brussels: Police, protesters clash at victims' shrine

As investigators launched fresh raids related to Tuesday’s attacks in the Belgian capital, police and hundreds of protesters clashed at a temporary shrine honouring victims of the Brussels suicide bombings.

Clashes and scuffles broke out on Sunday in front of the Bourse, as Brussels police used water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters some of them right-wingers who gathered at the temporary shrine which has become a symbolic rallying point for people to pay their respects to those who died in Tuesday’s attacks.

Among the protesters were a group of men wearing black carrying anti-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levante group banners.

According to reports, at least 10 people were arrested and two police officers were confirmed injured.

“We had 340 hooligans from different football clubs who came to Brussels and we knew for sure that they would create some trouble,” Police Commissioner Christian De Coninck said.

It was important for us to be here symbolically,” said Samia Orosemane, a 35-year-old comedian. But, she added, “there were lots of men who were here and doing the Nazi salute, shouting ‘death to Arabs’ and so we weren’t able to get through.”

“We are all here today for peace, and for the brotherhood among peoples. Not for right-wing ideas. It’s neither the time nor the place,” said Theophile Mouange, 52.

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