Police and firefighter trade unions have condemned "recurring police violence by a few individuals within an intervention unit" of the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone.
CGSP trade unions representing police and firefighters have challenged their respective chiefs' claim that a few protesting firefighters were to blame for violent clashes that occurred between the two forces during a protest action on 13 January.
"It appears that the Brussels police provoked the incidents by using excessive force against firefighters, who were merely stepping out of the procession peacefully," the unions stated.
The clashes occurred near the MR headquarters, where dozens of demonstrators from various groups had gathered to voice their anger. The building was protected by a riot police unit, including over 60 officers and two water cannons, which were used to disperse the protesters.
Off-duty officer injured
The CGSP Police union also highlighted an incident where an off-duty officer was reportedly injured by his colleagues.
"An off-duty but on-duty plainclothes officer tried to intervene to restore calm. He was pinned to the ground by his own colleagues and sustained significant shoulder injuries. Firefighters had to assist him. The officer remains unable to work."
The unions wrote to the chief of the Brussels police, criticising his response: "The plainclothes officer was blamed for not wearing his armband, which would have prevented him from being beaten! The CGSP cannot accept this response, which implies that it is acceptable to assault anyone not wearing an armband."
The issue has been added to the agenda of the next base consultation committee meeting, chaired by the mayor of Brussels, who is also the president of the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police zone college. The unions are demanding apologies for the injured officer and firefighters.
During the protest, the police made 17 arrests (12 administrative and five judicial). The event saw between 60,000 and 100,000 participants.
