BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – On Saturday, Belgian law enforcement units detained over 70 youths who smashed shop windows and police vehicles on Louise avenue in central Brussels, local media reported.
Belgian police official has confirmed earlier the detention of 30.
"Thirty youths, who had participated in the manifestation, covered their faces, and headed to the Louise [avenue] where they had damaged shops," Belgian police spokesman Ilse Van de Keere said, as quoted by the outlet.
Brussels: Muslim migrants riot for the third time in two weeks https://t.co/UtibOrguJO pic.twitter.com/G3EqYvcgpI
— Robert Spencer (@jihadwatchRS) 25 ноября 2017 г.
The RTBF broadcaster reported that the anti-riot police department had been deployed to the scene of the unrest.
🆘‼️👮🔥 #Belgium: Tonight again unrest and riots by migrant youths in #Brussels! Shops are looted and cars destroyed. Riot Police in large contingent with water cannon on site. pic.twitter.com/cUvWiTEl9Y
— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) 25 ноября 2017 г.
Also, authorities reportedly deployed a water cannon and a helicopter to the area.
Brussels unrest reach Ixelles. Better don't walk barefoot in the lower part of Chaussée d'Ixelles tomorrow… #Brussels #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/90QjHZvpZn
— Ragnar Weilandt (@RagnarWeilandt) 25 ноября 2017 г.
The protest was sparked by a recent video, showing African refugees being auctioned by people smugglers.
Protests and Tolerance
The Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon has responded to the issue in his twitter, saying that the police were ordered to "detain as many as possible" in order to "stop the destruction.
Migrants are rioting in Brussels again
— Shteve (@SteveBlogs1) 25 ноября 2017 г.
pic.twitter.com/tUAFuU1xMN
Also, he manifested "zero tolerance" to those arrested, explaining that the "federal police have full authority" against young people destroying the property of other people.
Une centaine d’arrestations dont 15 judiciaires après les émeutes à BXL. La tolérance zéro est d’application contre ces jeunes qui détruisent la propriété d’autrui
— Jan Jambon (@JanJambon) 25 ноября 2017 г.
In November, Brussels has faced a wave of riots. In one of the most large-scale cases on November 11, fans of the Morocco national football team were celebrating its qualification for World Cup 2018 next to Brussels Stock Exchange, but the celebration turned violent, with altercations between the police and the celebrants.
More than 20 police officers were injured as a result of the incident, while material damages included burnt cars and vandalized storefronts.
