Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – After the Belgian Cup final between Club Brugge and RSC Anderlecht, riots erupted in Brussels, leading to 63 arrests. Violence targeted residents, businesses, and local shops, especially in Molenbeek and Jette.
As VRT News and Evrim Agaci reported, the Belgian Cup final, a duel between Club Brugge and RSC Anderlecht, was contested in Brussels. Officials said there were tensions that started early, as big groups of fans made the journey to the capital as early as midday. Police officers at Brussels Central Station were soon compelled to make their presence known to split opposing fans and break up any disputes.
The match was conducted in a stadium, and police forces throughout the city were on the lookout. After Club Brugge won the match, things turned sour quickly. Riots broke out late at night, and they mostly consisted of Club Brugge fans and young locals. These acts of violence were carried out in various parts of the city, even with the numerous police presence.
How did violence erupt in Brussels after the Belgian Cup final?
Following the Belgian Cup final in Brussels, police arrested a total of 63 people. The majority of these were administrative arrests, utilised to swiftly restore order amid the unrest. The individuals who were arrested were questioned and subsequently released, although they can still be charged later or fined.
Apart from these, 2 individuals were arrested on judicial charges, suspected of having committed more serious offences. The police labelled the incidents as riots, highlighting the intensity of the violence.
Following the Belgian Cup final, violence continued in Brussels, with serious incidents reported across several areas. Following the game, Club Brugge fans assaulted businesses and residents in areas such as Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Jette.
Shop windows were smashed, street furniture was destroyed, and fireworks were thrown into crowds. In Molenbeek, near the Gare Maritime, the violence escalated, with people being kicked and beaten. The police are investigating these incidents and the people involved.
“The violence was aimed at local residents,”
Says Hilde Sagon, who lives in the area and is a municipal councillor for Groen in Molenbeek.
“It’s not like Anderlecht supporters were walking around here. Our neighbourhood is far from the stadium. The question I ask myself is why these people came here without any form of police escort. I don’t understand how it could have gotten to this point.”
Brussels MP Jamal Ikazban shared videos on X of a DIY store in Molenbeek being broken into by hooligans. The shop owner was attacked, and tiles and gas cylinders were used as weapons. Racist insults were also shouted. Clashes also occurred in the Brussels metro system, with fights, broken windows, and forced-open doors reported.
Some incidents may have been retaliatory attacks. The public transport operator MIVB is helping the police with surveillance footage. The cup final aftermath has raised concerns about public safety in Brussels, including crowd control and fan violence.
