Riots that escalated into clashes with the police and pogroms took place on Saturday evening in Liege. According to the RTBF TV channel, a total of about 300 young people, united in mobile groups, took part in them.
The riots erupted after local supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement protested against “police violence” following the arrest of a Congolese woman by police the day before on charges of inciting mutiny and resisting the police.
The event quickly escalated into clashes with the police. The protesters smashed a McDonald’s in St. Lambert Square in the city center and cars parked near it, smashed several transport stops. After a short skirmish with the police, the rioters were able to push back the forces of law and order, and then scattered in small groups in the city center, smashing shops and cars. They also smashed some of the windows at the central police station and the city hall of Liege.
Only an hour and a half later, when reinforcements of the federal police special forces arrived in the city center, the situation was brought under control. The police used tear gas and water cannons. During the clashes, 11 police officers were injured, several dozen people were detained.
The city authorities reported that the pogroms were organized in nature, their participants had edged weapons, some were equipped with sports shields to protect their arms and legs.