Belgian king’s car hit by projectiles during unrest in Brussels
A vehicle carrying Belgium’s King Philippe has been hit by projectiles as it was passing through the streets of the capital, Brussels, where hundreds of angry protesters were rallying over the death of a young black man in police custody at the weekend.
The incident, which led to no injuries and was captured on video, occurred on Wednesday afternoon, when some 500 protesters convened close to Brussels-North police station over the death of an individual identified in Belgian media as Ibrahima B.
The 23-year-old man, who had an African background, had been arrested on Saturday evening after fleeing police who were checking on a group of people suspected of violating measures in place in the city for the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to officials, the young man lost consciousness after being taken to a police station and was transported to a hospital, where he died, over an hour after his arrest.
It was not yet clear why he died. The Brussels public prosecutor’s office said a police oversight body had opened an investigation into the incident.
Following the announcement of the man’s death, angry protesters marched toward a police station at the center of the inquiry demanding the truth about his death.
The rally had been authorized. However, after the end of the demonstration, a group of protesters began hurling stones at the station, briefly set it ablaze, and vandalized local streets.
Police intervened and soon contained the situation. Dozens of protesters have already been arrested and at least four police officers sustained injuries during the clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers.
“We will follow that up and, if necessary, take the necessary steps to also condemn misconduct by the police,” said Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, denouncing the unrest as “totally unacceptable.”
“Today, there is no reason to do so, and therefore there is certainly no reason for this kind of violence,” she added, referring to the protests.
Separately, the head of the Saint-Josse-ten-Noode commune, Emir Kir, also slammed the violence.
“I condemn the irresponsible behavior of those who used the situation after the demonstration to provoke incidents with police and damage the city property,” he tweeted late Wednesday, adding that from 70 to 80 protesters had been arrested.
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