A total of twelve people were taken into police custody after using water cannons, fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds in Brussels. Eight more were detained in Antwerp’s Northern city. Rotterdam, a Dutch port city, was home to two police officers who were both injured. Almost all of the affected cities experienced a calm return by Sunday evening.
Numerous rioters set fire to electric scooters, torched and destroyed cars and pelted them with bricks. According to Ilse Van der Keere, a spokesperson for Brussels police, police moved in after one victim sustained facial injuries.
Philippe Close, the mayor of Brussels, urged citizens to avoid the city’s center and stated that authorities were trying to maintain order in the streets. Police orders had to stop tram and subway traffic.
“Those people are not fans. They are rioters. Close stated that Moroccan fans were there to celebrate. There were also disturbances at Antwerp and Liege.
Annelies Verlinden, Interior Minister, said that it was sad to see the abuse of a situation by a few people.
Police in neighboring Netherlands reported violence in Rotterdam. Riot officers were trying to disperse 500 soccer supporters, who pelted them with glass and fireworks. The Hague and the capital Amsterdam were reported by media.
Morocco’s win was a significant upset at the World Cup. It was celebrated enthusiastically by Moroccan immigrants living in many Belgian or Dutch cities.
