Rioters cause chaos after World Cup win
POLICE have used water cannons and teargas after coming under attack from football supporters who brought havoc to the centre of Brussels following Morocco’s shock 2-0 win over Belgium in Qatar.
Dozens of fans smashed shop windows, threw fireworks and torched vehicles.
Police said 11 people were arrested during the chaos.
Even before the end of the match, “dozens of people, including some wearing hoodies, sought confrontation with the police, which compromised public safety,” Brussels police said in a statement.
A spokeswoman said some fans were armed with sticks, and a journalist “was injured in the face by fireworks”.
About 100 police officers were mobilised and residents were warned to avoid certain areas of the city centre, while metro stations were closed and streets were sealed off to limit the spread of the violence.
An AFP journalist saw protesters burning a car, bins and a number of electric scooters.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the incidents of this afternoon. The police have already firmly intervened. I therefore advise against fans coming to the city centre. The police are doing all they can to maintain public order,” tweeted the mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close.
Belgium is home to about 500,000 people of Moroccan descent.
In Liege, a gang of 50 people broke windows at a police station and damaged two vehicles. Storefronts and a bus shelter were also vandalised.
Incidents also broke out in Antwerp in the north where a dozen people were arrested.
Meanwhile, Dutch riot police carried out baton charges in three cities to disperse unruly Moroccan football supporters celebrating their team’s victory.