Belgium: the authorities in turn ban the “freedom convoy” in Brussels

Europe 1 with AFP 2:07 p.m., February 10, 2022

The Belgian authorities announced Thursday to prohibit access to Brussels of the "freedom convoy", expected a priori on Monday, a demonstration for which no authorization was requested, justified the burgomaster (mayor) of the Belgian capital.

"Means are in place to prevent the blocking of the Brussels-Capital Region," added the mayor, Philippe Close, who spoke on Twitter, shortly after the announcement of similar measures in Paris.

Together with @AnneliesVl and @rudivervoort, we took the decision to ban the "Freedom Convoy" which was not granted permission to demonstrate because no request was sent.

Means are put in place to prevent the blocking of the Brussels-Capital Region

– Philippe Close (@PhilippeClose) February 10, 2022

Controls planned at the Belgian border

The mayor of Brussels clarified that the decision had been taken in consultation with the regional executive and the Belgian Minister of the Interior, Annelies Verlinden.

The minister has authority over the federal police, which will be responsible for controlling trucks and cars from abroad wishing to reach Brussels at the Belgian border.

In addition, “orders prohibiting demonstrations with motorized vehicles” will be taken at the level of the region and the city of Brussels, according to a press release from the president of the regional executive, Rudi Vervoort.

The measure is also aimed at potential Belgian demonstrators or already on Belgian soil.

Their vehicles approaching the capital will be diverted by the police "to Parking C", a large parking area near the Heysel plateau, in the north of the agglomeration.

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Convergence from all over Europe, according to social networks

This convoy of vehicles, inspired by the movement against anti-Covid restrictions launched in Canada, was expected in Brussels on Monday, according to the call to demonstrate circulating on social networks and evoking a convergence from all over Europe.

In France, several processions of this movement, which its organizers define as "the next stage" of the anti-government mobilization of "yellow vests" and opponents of the health pass, left Wednesday from several cities in the South (Nice, Bayonne , Perpignan), and others are due to start on Thursday.

In view of this gathering, expected Friday in Paris, the prefect of police of the French capital announced Thursday morning prohibition measures.

The police headquarters announced the ban, from Friday to Monday, of this mobilization for "risks of disturbing public order" and the establishment of a "specific device (...) to prevent the blockages of 'roads, verbalize and challenge offenders".

The prefect Didier Lallement gave "firm instructions" to the police, specifies a press release published in Paris, which recalls in particular that obstructing traffic is punishable by two years of imprisonment.