Police and protesters clashed in Brussels on Friday 9 October 2026, as tens of thousands of people marched in the Belgian capital against rising living costs and the government’s budget-tightening measures. The Associated Press reported that police put the anti-austerity rally at around 30,000 people, while organisers said 50,000 turned out.
The demonstration came as the Belgian government struggles to finalise a budget for next year, with the country carrying heavy public debt. This article sets out what happened, what each side has said, and what remains disputed.
What happened in Brussels
According to the AP, dozens of protesters, many of them young, dressed in black and wearing masks, threw rocks and firecrackers at police at the central Brussels railway station, then set several fires, including one to a pile of city bikes and electric scooters.
Riot police responded with tear gas, water cannons and baton charges, pushing the protesters from the area. Traffic and public transport across the city were disrupted on Friday.
Who was responsible for the clashes
Police said those “who caused the problems of public order are not linked” to the anti-austerity rally. Union leaders said the rioters had nothing to do with their protest.
The march itself, the AP reports, passed off peacefully. Union members and supporters dressed in red or green moved through the Brussels city centre.
Both the police and the unions say the people who clashed with officers were separate from the main demonstration. This account has not been independently verified beyond the AP’s reporting.
Why people were marching
The rally was organised by Belgian trade unions against the government’s proposed budget measures, according to the AP’s captions from the day.
Union movements had hoped to draw tens of thousands of people to Brussels as the government works to finalise next year’s budget. The AP reports that Belgium is mired in public debt, alongside neighbours France and Italy.
One marcher, Marie Gobert, a single mother and social worker from the city of Namur, told the AP she came with one of her daughters.
“I work, but I cannot make ends meet,” Gobert said. “You can feel the social tension, you can feel anger starting to simmer everywhere. The education system is being dismantled and when young people want to speak out no one listens to them.”
The week of tension in Liège
The Brussels clashes followed a week of tension in the eastern city of Liège. The AP reports that authorities placed a ban on public gatherings there after students clashed with police and vandalised shops.
More than 200 people were arrested in Liège, and dozens of police were injured, according to the AP.
The budget backdrop
The protests take place while the Belgian government is still trying to agree a budget for 2027. The AP describes Belgium as mired in public debt, in common with France and Italy.
The government has not, in the reporting used for this article, set out a response to the specific demands of the marchers. The article does not take a position on the budget measures themselves.
What to watch next
- The 2027 budget: whether the government reaches a deal, and whether unions respond with further action.
- The Liège situation: whether the gathering ban stays in place, and how the arrests are handled.
- Any police follow-up on the clashes at the central railway station, and whether charges are brought.
Frequently asked questions
How many people protested in Brussels?
Police said the anti-austerity rally drew around 30,000 people. Organisers said 50,000 attended. The AP reports both figures without choosing between them.
Did the main march turn violent?
The AP reports that the union march through the city centre passed off peacefully, and that both police and union leaders said the people who clashed with officers were not part of the rally.
Were there arrests?
The AP reports more than 200 arrests in Liège earlier in the week. It does not give a figure for arrests in Friday’s clashes in Brussels.
Sources
- Associated Press, “Police and masked protesters clash in Brussels as anti-austerity rally disrupts city,” 9 October 2026: apnews.com
This article is based on a single Associated Press report and reflects claims made by police, union organisers and participants. Crowd figures differ between police and organisers. Check official Belgian sources and established news organisations for updates before sharing.
