Belgian police clash with protesters as unrest spreads across Europe

Police clashed with protesters in Brussels and Liege on Saturday as demonstrations turned violent across Europe, with Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin declaring the situation "pure and simple violence" rather than a protest. Authorities deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds in Brussels, where officers targeted youths throwing bottles near the Stock Exchange, and similar measures were used in Liege. Quintin stated all necessary measures would be taken to restore order against "troublemakers" seeking to destabilize society. The unrest follows weeks of Belgian secondary school student protests over education costs, alongside French student demonstrations over teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms. A Euronews crew was attacked by masked looters near Place de la République in Paris while covering the protests.