General view of people clashing with the police in Brussels, after the World Cup match between Belgium and Morocco on Sunday. (REUTERS/Yves Herman)
Brussels: Police used water cannon and teargas after coming under attack from football supporters who brought havoc to the center of Brussels on Sunday following Morocco's shock 2-0 win over Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Dozens of fans smashed shop windows, threw fireworks and torched vehicles.
Even before the end of the match, "dozens of people, including some wearing hoodies, sought confrontation with the police, which compromised public safety," Brussels police said in a statement.
General view of police officers and their vehicles during clashes in Brussels, after the World Cup match between Belgium and Morocco. (REUTERS/Yves Herman)
A spokeswoman said some fans were armed with sticks and a journalist "was injured in the face by fireworks".
Around a hundred police officers were mobile while residents were warned to avoid certain areas of the city centre. Metro stations were closed and streets blocked to limit the spread of violence.
"I condemn in the strongest terms the incidents of this afternoon. The police have already firmly intervened. I therefore advise against fans coming to the city centre. The police are doing all they can to maintain public order," the mayor of Brussels tweeted, Philip Close.
"I have ordered the police to carry out arrests of the troublemakers."
