Chaos Erupts in Brussels as Influencers Attempt to Hand Out Free Items
A planned giveaway event by two Belgian influencers, Hachemi and IbraTV, resulted in chaos and unrest in Brussels on Tuesday. Around a thousand people gathered at the Atomium monument, expecting to receive free items, according to the VRT.
The influencers, both with over a million followers on social media, arrived in a bus that was immediately swarmed by the eager crowd. Misbehavior swiftly escalated, with the police reporting a tense atmosphere and the use of fireworks. As the bus drove off, the group of bystanders chased after it, prompting police to deploy a water cannon to disperse the crowd.
The influencers shared videos on social media depictinga large crowd surrounding and later chasing their bus, with fireworks set off from its roof. Snapchat users also shared similar scenes.
This incident adds to a growing list of disorderly events sparked by influencer giveaways. Last year, a Twitch streamer’s giveaway caused riots in New York, wounding several police officers and resulting in numerous arrests. In January 2023, YouTuber Divaio’s planned giveaway led to unrest in a Rotterdam shopping center, requiring police and riot control intervention.
