Six pro-Palestinian demonstrators took the Brussels police to court on Thursday over the actions of the security forces on 2 October during a spontaneous protest against the interception of the humanitarian fleet, the Global Sumud Flotilla, bound for Gaza.
The demonstration, with over a thousand participants, marched from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Place Luxembourg in Brussels. A simultaneous protest also took place at the Stock Exchange.
Later in the evening, a group at the Stock Exchange wanted to join the demonstrators at Place Luxembourg, but they were intercepted by the police near Place des Martyrs. The police eventually intervened at Place Luxembourg as well.
The police allegedly struck the demonstrators on the head multiple times with a baton, violating police regulations, according to attorney Selma Benkhelifa. The demonstrators collected footage of the violence.
Police also allegedly used "an illegal tactic" to surround the demonstrators. "Moreover, the officers involved were not wearing visible identification; several of them had their faces covered," said Benkhelifa.
Tear gas and a water cannon were also used by police during the intervention. The lawyer criticises the fact that some demonstrators were left injured, "while several of them had to go to the emergency room".
Finally, journalists were also allegedly attacked, "who did not participate in the demonstration". It is unclear which journalists are involved and whether they were in possession of an official press card. The victims wish to remain anonymous.
The six plaintiffs filed a complaint against the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone and against unknown persons, "since the identity of the officers involved is unknown to us," states Benkhelifa.
