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Clashes erupt in Brussels alongside large anti-austerity union rally

Riot police deployed tear gas after masked youths lit fires and threw projectiles near the central station

Updated Oct 9, 2026 · 18:17 UTC4 reports

The short version

  • Belgian police clashed on Friday with masked youths who ignited fires and threw projectiles near Brussels' central station.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]
  • The violence occurred alongside a separate, peaceful trade union demonstration against government austerity and living costs.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]
  • Police reported approximately 20 arrests, largely consisting of minors, following preliminary assessments.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Both law enforcement officials and labor unions emphasized that the violent demonstrators were not affiliated with the main rally.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]

Key facts

  • Masked youths in Brussels threw stones and fireworks at police, torched bicycles and scooters, and damaged two evacuated buses.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]
  • Riot officers utilized tear gas and water cannons to disperse the agitators near the city's central railway station.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]
  • Police made roughly 20 arrests, noting that most of those taken into custody were minors.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Police estimated attendance at the peaceful trade union demonstration at approximately 30,000, while organizers cited 50,000 participants.[Associated Press]
  • The Belgian administration under Prime Minister Bart De Wever aims to reduce spending by €10 billion by 2029.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The unrest in Brussels followed earlier clashes in Liege that produced over 200 arrests and injured dozens of police officers.[Associated Press · Deutsche Welle]

What remains uncertain

  • Attendance numbers for the main march are disputed, with police reporting about 30,000 participants and organizers claiming 50,000.[Associated Press]
  • The reported tally of roughly 20 arrests was provided by police as a preliminary update.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.