Emergency responders in Brussels faced attacks by rioters on New Year’s Eve.
Rioters caused widespread destruction in Brussels on New Year’s Eve, targeting emergency services with Molotov cocktails and setting vehicles on fire. Authorities reported numerous arrests following the violence, confirmed by local officials, media coverage, and social media videos.
Authorities announced 159 arrests following the New Year’s Eve disturbances. At least 60 vehicles were burned across the city, which houses the EU Commission and NATO headquarters.
“The situation was extremely chaotic,” Brussels Fire Department spokesperson Walter Derieuw told Politico. “We were attacked with Molotov cocktails while trying to help.”
Youth gangs in Brussel’s worst no-go zone Molenbeek used Molotov cocktails to attack the police and fireworks to assault firefighters on New Year’s Eve
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Videos circulating online depict individuals in dark clothing vandalizing emergency vehicles, striking them with objects, and throwing flammable devices and fireworks at police.
Molenbeek and Anderlecht, known for high crime rates, were the main locations of the unrest. Molenbeek has been linked to previous terrorist attacks, with former Prime Minister Charles Michel noting a connection between the district and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks, based on media reports at the time about weapons sourcing.
The violence unfolded despite increased security measures for New Year’s Eve celebrations, including a heightened police and fire service presence. Anderlecht also imposed a nighttime curfew for minors under 16 to “protect young people.”
Brussels is ranked among Europe’s most dangerous cities, holding the 18th position in the Numbeo crime index.
Official statistics indicate that almost 18% of Belgium’s population is foreign-born, rising to 46% in the capital. Recent immigration increases, partly due to the Ukraine conflict, saw 233,000 and 194,000 new immigrants in 2022 and 2023 respectively.