The Belgian police fired water cannons and used tear gas to disperse protesters who oppose mandatory sanitation measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Approximately 8,000 people marched through Brussels to the EU headquarters, chanting “freedom” and set off fireworks.
The population is smaller than 35,000 vaccine and blockade skeptics Parade last month, The police are more fully prepared.
The protesters were prevented from entering the roundabout outside the EU headquarters by barbed wire fences and a row of riot officials. When two drones and a helicopter hovered overhead, they threw fireworks and beer cans. The police responded with water cannons and tear gas.
As the crowd dispersed into smaller groups around the European area, more conflicts occurred, with some people setting fire to garbage roadblocks. The police stated that their two police officers and four protesters had been hospitalized and had arrested 20 people.
In recent weeks, demonstrations have taken place in several European countries as governments have responded to the surge in Covid cases with stricter restrictions.
In Brussels, the organizers wanted to match the November 21 demonstration in which the police seemed caught off guard and violent clashes occurred.
Demonstrators opposed compulsory health measures — such as wearing masks, lockdowns and vaccine passes — and some shared conspiracy theories. The banner on Sunday compared the stigmatization of unvaccinated with the treatment of Jews forced to wear yellow stars in Nazi Germany.
“Covid = organized genocide,” a sign said. “The QR code is a swastika,” another declared, referring to the EU Covid Security Digital Certificate.
Firefighters after get off work in uniforms took the lead in the protests, demanding the right to refuse vaccinations.
Measures taken to combat the new coronavirus Belgium It is up to the country’s own national and regional governments to decide, but the European Union has also aroused the ire of skeptics.
On Wednesday, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated that, in her view, it is time to “consider mandatory vaccination,” a suggestion that was condemned by the protest spokesperson. .
On Friday, the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo announced a series of measures to strengthen health regulations, advance the school Christmas holiday, and require children 6 years and older to wear masks.
Belgium has a population of 11 million. In the past 7 days, more than 17,800 people were infected with Covid-19 every day and 44 people died.
Approximately 800 critically ill patients across the country are receiving intensive care, resulting in overcrowding and delays in treatment of many other diseases.
