Brussels shopkeepers board up stores ahead of far-left protest

Brussels shopkeepers are boarding up storefronts along major shopping streets ahead of a planned far-left protest on Saturday, fearing a repeat of recent looting and vandalism. The precautionary measures come after calls for demonstrations circulated on social media. Several stores, including Nike, JD Sports, and Yves Rocher, were already targeted during earlier unrest this month, with looters stealing merchandise after smashing windows. Police say they will be visibly present and that shops can open normally, while some retailers estimate a day of closure costs up to 13,000 euros. Far-left groups, including a new collective called Rouge-Rood, have called for a rally from the central station to the Albertinaplein. Belgian security services note that pro-Kremlin networks have previously sought to amplify polarizing events, though they say the underlying grievances are genuine.