Brussels riots: Police use water cannons as protesters torch cars

Riots erupted in central Brussels on Saturday, October 17, involving youth who damaged property and set fires, prompting police to use tear gas and water cannons. Protesters attacked the Socialist Party's Brussels headquarters, smashed windows, burned trash bins, and torched three cars. Police detained several individuals, with many participants reportedly minors, some under 12 years old. The situation calmed by evening, though a large group remained at the Stock Exchange square chanting anti-police slogans. Belgium's interior minister condemned the unrest as beyond a simple protest. The violence followed clashes on October 9 during a union demonstration, with students protesting rising education costs and reforms. Similar protests occurred in Liege, while Paris and other French cities also saw unrest over high prices.