Key facts
- Police used tear gas and pepper spray against protesters in Brussels.
- Demonstrators were calling for better conditions in the education system.
- Protesters threw items at police and attempted to set fire to rental scooters and bicycles.
Police in Brussels deployed tear gas and pepper spray on Saturday during clashes with anti-government demonstrators who were protesting for improved conditions in the education system. The protests, which have been ongoing in recent months, saw hundreds of mainly young people gather to demand more funding for education and protest against what they described as excessive police violence. Witnesses reported incidents where police pursued protesters, with officers seen hitting and kicking one demonstrator. Protesters also threw objects and attempted to set fire to a pile of rental scooters and bicycles.