Belgian riot police have fired water cannon on an anti-Islamic State (IS) protest near a shrine commemorating the victims of the Brussels terror attacks. Around 10 men from a self-described “hooligan” march were arrested.
Despite a so-called “march against fear” being canceled in the city today because of ongoing security fears, hundreds had gathered at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels to commemorate the March 22nd suicide bombings, the 31 people killed, and 270 wounded.
A man gestures as masked and hooded men arrive outside the stock exchange in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (KRISTOF VAN ACCOM/AFP/Getty)
However, at 2.30pm around 400 men — some masked and wearing black — arrived at the makeshift shrine.
“We don’t believe in candles and flowers. That is for the dead,” said one demonstrator, who gave his name as Mario and claimed to be in a “hooligan gang” from Ghent.
“We want answers from the government. There are too many fanatics in this country,” he told the Telegraph.
Demonstrators disturb the rally around the makeshift memorial in tribute to the victims of the Brussels terror attacks, on Place de la Bourse square in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/AFP/Getty)
The men held a banned that read: “Fuck ISIS. Casuals Against Terrorism”, and chanted, “Hooligans united for the same cause”.
Chants of, “This is our home”, and, “The state, Daesh accomplice”, were also heard.
Others in the square, including some Muslims and migrants, proceeded to provoke the “hooligans” by chanting back: “Fascists! Fascists! We’re not having it!”
There were small clashes between the two groups, which primarily consisted of pushing, shoving and throwing insults.
Riot police with helmets and shields quickly corralled the hooligans before dispersing them with high power water jets, and marshalling them onto trains out of the city, AFP journalists witnessed. Ten arrests were made.
People talk as they gesture outside the stock exchange in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty)
As the “hooligans” were driven out of the Place de la Bourse by the police, cheers and clapping was heard.
Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur said police had done “nothing” to stop the hooligans coming to Brussels despite having advance warning, adding that he was “appalled” that “such thugs have come to provoke residents at the site of their memorial.”
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said he “emphatically” condemned the demonstration.
(AFP contributed to this report)
Police use a water cannon to disperse far-right football hooligans outside the stock exchange in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Football hooligans chant slogans as they arrive outside the stock exchange in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty)
Riot police secure the area outside the stock exchange in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty)
Demonstrators disturb the rally around the makeshift memorial in tribute to the victims of the Brussels terror attacks, on Place de la Bourse square in Brussels on March 27, 2016 (NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/AFP/Getty)