The fans launched missiles and clashed with police, who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Morocco’s victory over Belgium on Sunday caused chaos in the Belgian capital. Hundreds of fans of the Moroccan team launched missiles, smashed street furniture and set fire to several electric scooters in a series of vandalism that ended with the intervention of the police, who used tear gas to disperse the crowd. At least one person has been injured and the mayor of Brussels has announced that those responsible will be arrested.
The tension in the city was already palpable before the match between the two teams in the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar. A large number of citizens of Moroccan origin live in the Belgian capital and the Belgian security forces carried out a major police deployment, fearing possible riots. As a backdrop, in Morocco’s qualification for the 2017 World Cup, the riots that followed the Moroccan fans’ celebration resulted in 22 injuries in the Belgian capital.
This Sunday, dozens of fans took to the streets with the Moroccan flag around their necks to celebrate the 1-0 with shouts and torches. Police reported that before the end of the match, “dozens of people, some hooded, sought confrontation with law enforcement”. Projectiles were fired at them and officers responded with water cannons. On their social networks, the security services advised to avoid the Boulevard du Midi, where car traffic had to be interrupted. Access to the Molenbeek district, with a large concentration of immigrants, was also difficult.
The incidents continued throughout the afternoon and fans, some armed with sticks, set fire to a container on Boulevard Lemonnier. Police also denounced the vandalism of a traffic light and the siege of a vehicle with an occupant in the same area. A journalist was also injured in the face by the launch of pyrotechnic material. Police reported having to use tear gas to disperse the crowd. The mayor of the city, Philippe Close, condemned what happened and warned that all rioters will be arrested.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
