Brussels deploys unprecedented police force to prevent new riots after anonymous calls

Anonymous calls for gatherings in Brussels, circulating on social media since the start of the week, have prompted an unprecedented police deployment to prevent new riots near political institutions where demonstrations are banned. Authorities have mobilized significant resources, including new tear gas launchers and federal police water cannons, coordinated from a command center uniting all six Brussels police zones. Shopkeepers in the city center have prepared for the worst, with barricades appearing on storefronts like Nike, JD, New Yorker, and Foot Korner on Rue Neuve, which were looted during the October 17 riots. Workers covered additional facades Friday morning, with some stores like Hunkemöller boarding up for safety, while others like Courir remain open but report a third drop in customer traffic, partly attributed to storm Austen. Residents describe the atmosphere as "very worrying," with one local, Maria, saying she has never seen such a large-scale security setup in her fifteen years in the neighborhood. The situation remains tense as authorities monitor for potential gatherings in the neutral zone.