Rabat – While Paris police arrested over 300 yellow vests in central Paris earlier today, Belgian police have arrested around 70 people in different areas in Brussels, Ilse Van De Keere, spokesperson of Brussels police, told AFP.
Keere reported that around 400 protesters gathered in front of the Belgian prime minister’s office, calling on Prime Minister Charles Michel to resign while smashing traffic lights and street signs in the area.
The police set barricades to block entry to the minister’s office, but failed to contain resolute protesters, who destroyed police vehicles, throwing stones and flares.
Police also used barricades to block access to the European Parliament.
For the first time, Paris police used tear gas against the protesters on Saturday, whereas Belgium police used pepper spray to disperse the protesting crowd.
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The movement that started in Paris on November 17 to protest an unpopular tax on fuel proposed on France’s national budget has morphed into a series of anti-government demonstrations, calling for French President Emmanuel Macron to resign.
In recent weeks, the anti-government mood has spread to Belgium and the Netherlands.
The increasing violence initiated by the yellow vests in Paris prompted government officials to suspend the fuel tax proposal.
About 8,000 police officers are currently on duty in the French capital to prevent more violence.
