Around 10 people were arrested on Sunday after Belgian riot police used a water cannon to break up a far-right protest at Brussels victims memorial, AFP reports.
The hundreds-strong crowd, calling themselves “Casuals Against Terrorism”, marched into Place de la Bourse, where people have gathered at a makeshift memorial for victims since the March 22 attacks.
Broadcast RTBF said there were between 500 and 1,000 protestors.
The mob occupied the steps of the stock exchange in the square, a focal point for people paying their respects to the victims.
The chanting group confronted Muslim women and made Nazi salutes, the BBC reported.
After they ignored requests to disperse, water cannons were deployed.
A “March Against Fear” planned for Sunday was postponed after officials said it would put pressure on police resources.
Many of the demonstrators were dressed in black and some wore balaclavas or covered their faces.
One told AFP: “We are football hooligans, we don’t have anything to do with politics.… We are here for the victims and to pay our respects.”
Main image: Riot police hold back far right protestors on Place de la Bourse, Brussels. @emmamgc/Twitter
#BREAKING Around 10 arrested as far-right hooligans riot at Brussels shrine: police
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 27, 2016
[In pictures] Far-right protestors faced off police after marching on #Brussels #Bourse Sq. Reuters/Y.Herman pic.twitter.com/1HqYEEOiQc
— euronews (@euronews) March 27, 2016
Quel est le pt commun entre terroriste & fasciste? Haine de l'autre. Aucun a sa place dans notre société! #Brussels pic.twitter.com/wQHQQLiPiQ
— Mavrick Dufrasne (@Mavrick16) March 27, 2016
[In picture] Right-wing demonstrators protest against #brusselsattacks at #Brussels Bourse square Reuters/Y.Herman pic.twitter.com/Jlh6zGFVQo
— euronews (@euronews) March 27, 2016
Belgian police have fired water cannon at far-right protesters at a victims' shrine in Brussels pic.twitter.com/VwoiiSApo5
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 27, 2016
Police break up right-wing protest at #BrusselsAttacks memorial. More to follow https://t.co/YBqCRfFxs6 pic.twitter.com/34jXlnV1nJ
— dwnews (@dwnews) March 27, 2016
This image is so poignant it hurts. #Brussels #PlaceDeLaBourse pic.twitter.com/R0nnDU0Dam
— Emma (@emmamgc) March 27, 2016
Watch: Water cannon disperses far-right protesters at Brussels square where terror attack tributes have been laid https://t.co/UaOqB969BC
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 27, 2016
Basta, police had enough. Got some wet hooligans out here. pic.twitter.com/cPoWFobkxs
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) March 27, 2016
Un groupe d'extrême droite perturbe le recueillement à la #bourse #bruxelles pic.twitter.com/0Xg8gCNLsC
— Nicolas Lejuste (@nicolejuste) March 27, 2016
Far right protestors march in Brussels , tense stand-off at memorial for attacks victims #BrusselsAttacks #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/9kNETx1W2R
— Rory Mulholland (@mulhollandrory) March 27, 2016
Hooligans on steps of la Bourse. "We are at home" they angrily shout. pic.twitter.com/2ftWzQBFyE
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) March 27, 2016
