Tens of Thousands Protest Austerity, Clashes Hit Brussels

About 30,000 people marched in Brussels on Friday against budget measures, police said. Masked youths in black clashed with riot police near Brussels Central Station, throwing rocks, bottles, bricks, firecrackers and other objects. Fires hit buses and piles of shared bikes and scooters; a demonstrator threw an electric scooter onto a burning barricade and another threw a tear gas canister back at police. Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges and detained or arrested 21 people, including 13 minors. Euronews described hundreds of youths in the clashes; Reuters put the masked group at a few dozen. Unions FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV called the national strike and are pushing for higher taxes on top earners rather than health cuts or a VAT hike. Bart De Wever is negotiating a budget deal with coalition partners by October 13. The protests drew partly on French student demonstrations; more than 200 were arrested in earlier Liege unrest, with dozens of police injured. Marie Gobert said, "I work, but I cannot make ends meet," and that anger is starting to simmer everywhere. Luc Toussaint said things are getting worse at an ever-faster rate and people have had enough. Emilie L'Honneux said, "We're struggling too, and we are the future of this country."