The Belgian police used, Thursday April 1, tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of young people gathered in a park in the capital Brussels for a wild party organized despite the ban by the authorities.
The event was supposed to be an April Fool's Day on social media.
Despite the announcement by the organizers that it was a hoax, around 2,000 people showed up at the Bois de la Cambre park at the end of the day, hot and sunny, to participate in "La Boom", a indicated the police of Belgium.
▶ Spectacular images at Bois de la Cambre - The police use autopumps to disperse the crowd which sends many projectiles chanting “Liberty, freedom!” # LN24 #bdc #boisdelacambre #Bruxelles pic.twitter.com/6qPzW7IktN
- LN24 (@ LesNews24) April 1, 2021
On Wednesday, the Brussels public prosecutor's office had however warned that the call launched on social networks to rally this park on April 1 was illegal due to restrictions in the fight against Covid-19.
According to local press, some 5,000 people took part in the celebration.
Several hundred police officers, including riot units, broke through the crowd to disperse the revelers, as many participants raised their fists in the air and shouted "freedom."
Some threw bottles and stones in the direction of the water cannons of the police.
Police and revelers injured
Reuters journalists present at the scene noted that at least two civilians were injured in the clashes.
A police spokeswoman said three officers were injured and four arrests.
The announcement, posted on Facebook in March, promised an enticing poster, with the presence of DJ and producer Calvin Harris as well as the participation of Daft Punk for a unique concert after the French duo announced their separation in February.
Belgium entered a new phase of stricter restrictions last Saturday, including limited access to non-essential shops and the possibility of gathering outdoors for up to four adults.
Against the backdrop of the rapid spread of the English variant of the coronavirus, schools and universities closed their doors on Monday, anticipating the fifteen days of Easter school holidays by one week.
With AFP and Reuters
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