The key facts
- In Brussels, police used tear gas near the Bourse area; in Liège, water cannons were used against demonstrators
- Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin described what was happening as 'plain and simple violence' organized to destabilize society
- An Euronews crew was attacked by looters near an Intermarché Express supermarket in Paris
Clashes in Belgium
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, participants of demonstrations against the rising cost of life clashed with police in Brussels and Liège. According to an AFP correspondent, in the capital police used tear gas against young people throwing bottles and other objects in the Bourse area. In the eastern city of Liège, water cannons were reportedly used against small groups of demonstrators. Videos circulated on social media showing police dispersing protesters with water and gas.
Reaction of the Belgian authorities
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said on Saturday that the situation 'is no longer simply a protest.' 'This is plain and simple violence, organized and repeated with the aim of destabilizing our society,' he wrote on social media, adding that 'all necessary measures will be taken to restore order in the face of the rioters.'
Context of the student protests
In recent weeks, high school students in Belgium have taken to the streets against rising education costs, joining students in France who are protesting against teacher shortages, poor conditions of educational institutions and overcrowded classrooms.
Riots in Paris
Mass protests in Paris over the weekend descended into chaos. An Euronews crew was attacked on Saturday near Place de la République. Correspondent Estelle Nilsson-Julien said the crew was on Boulevard Magenta next to an Intermarché Express supermarket, which was being looted by young people and teenagers. When they noticed the filming, they began beating the camera operator, tried to snatch the microphone and surrounded the journalists, then pinned the operator against a wall and started beating him; the correspondent herself was also hurt. According to her, the operator was not injured because he was wearing protective goggles and a mask.
Other actions in Paris
According to another Euronews journalist, a march along Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement of Paris remained peaceful, but tension was growing as more and more people arrived in the area.
