22 police officers were injured during riots in Brussels city centre on Saturday evening. This was according to an updated summary by Olivier Slosse, the Commissioner for the Bruxelles-Capitale Ixelles police force, on Sunday morning. Another person was also taken to hospital, but it has not been confirmed whether they were involved in the incidents.
Two cars were burned and several shops were ransacked. No-one has been arrested yet, but police will use CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators.
The riots started in Brussels city centre on Saturday evening, a few minutes after the Moroccan national football team qualified for the next World Cup in Russia, following a 2-0 victory away against Ivory Coast.
Around 300 people were involved. Police officers had objects thrown at them, cars were burned and commercial property and some of the preparations for the Plaisirs d’Hiver were damaged.
Police used a water cannon to disperse the crowd on Place de la Bourse and then on the Lemonier roundabout.
Calm returned at around 00:30. Federal police and reinforcements from other local police zones then left the area.
Police will use CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators.
(Source: Belga)
