Riot police shoot Covid protesters with water cannons as wild mobs smash windows and throw bullets in Belgium

BELGIAN riot police today shot Covid protesters with water cannon and tear gas as wild crowds descended on the country’s capital.

Officers tried to control massive protests in Brussels, which saw windows smashed and bullets fired in protest of the EU’s national Covid restrictions.

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As many as 50,000 people protested in the city on Sunday, with protesters traveling across Europe to express their anger.

Protesters shouted “Liberty!” as they march through the streets and clash violently with the police.

Footage also shows protesters dressed in black hurling bullets at a building used by the European Union’s diplomatic mission, while smashing its windows.

White-hat riot officers could be seen trying to disperse the crowd using loud speakers, but took harsher measures when their instructions were ignored.

Using water cannons, they fired powerful jets at the marchers, while thick clouds of smoke and streaks of tear gas filled the air.

The officers were then forced to seek shelter in a subway station because they were barricaded with metal.

The protest comes amid the Omicron wave that has caused infections to hit record highs across Europe.

And it follows protests across Europe on Saturday against vaccine passports and other requirements European governments have imposed as daily infections and hospital admissions soar. .

Today’s protest saw protesters clutching signs stabbing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Covid Safe Roads.

The Covid Safe card proves that the citizen has been vaccinated or tested negative and is required to enter multiple locations.

Organizers including the Worldwide Rally for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom appealed to people from other EU countries.

And flags from Poland, the Netherlands, France and Romania could be seen in the crowd.

About 70 people have been arrested, including dozens, for more serious crimes such as throwing bullets and damaging property, police said.

Three officers and 12 protesters were hospitalized, but none were in a life-threatening condition.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement: “Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of our society. Everyone is free to express their opinion.

“But our society will never tolerate indiscriminate violence, and even less so, against our police force. Those involved this Sunday will be prosecuted.”

Meanwhile, Brussels mayor Philippe Close tweeted that it was a “difficult day”.

Belgium has seen more than 28,700 deaths from the virus overall.

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