Police arrested 107 people in Liège following student protests over the state of French-language education in Belgium. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in the eastern Belgian city, prompting local authorities and the official government warning system BE-Alert to advise residents to stay away from the city center and close their shops. The demonstrations mirror a larger wave of unrest in France, where protests against the state of schools and education have led to thousands of arrests and widespread clashes. Reuters reports that students in Belgium were partially inspired by those in France, who have been demonstrating en masse for several days.
Liège Railway Station Temporarily Closed During Clashes
The unrest in Liège caused significant disruptions to public infrastructure and local commerce. Authorities temporarily closed the city’s main railway station, which later reopened according to Reuters. Police deployed across the city center, searching students for weapons during Wednesday’s demonstrations as fires and police barricades blocked thoroughfares. Belga news agency reported that the 107 arrests were primarily driven by property destruction and arson.
French-Language Education Grievances Drive Turnout
Protesters in Belgium are rallying against growing educational costs, overcrowded classrooms, and difficult access to study materials within the French-language school system. These demonstrations follow earlier clashes in Brussels during June over an education reform. That reform increased tuition fees for most students in French-speaking regions from 835 to 1,194 euros. Demonstrators in Liège told reporters they maintain contact with student activists in France, noting that both groups face the same problems.
Stricter Police Tactics and Flashball Suspension in France
In France, where the protest movement began in mid-September over understaffed schools in Créteil, demonstrations have scaled to massive proportions. The Středoškolský odborový svaz recorded 1,800 blockaded or officially closed secondary schools on Tuesday, with union estimates putting nationwide turnout at 450,000 demonstrators. The French Ministry of the Interior estimated total participants at 256,000, while the French Ministry of Education confirmed that 276 schools had no classes and 183 operated partially on Wednesday. The intense confrontations prompted French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to suspend the police use of flash-bang grenades during student protests, following an incident in Lens where a 15-year-old boy lost his hand after picking up a police stun grenade.
These stun grenades are designed to create a blinding flash and deafening sound to paralyze demonstrators. Nuñez stated on RTL radio that he is suspending their use against the high school movement until the circumstances of the incident are fully clarified. He also announced that the police inspectorate is investigating 18 cases regarding police conduct. Demonstrators have used banners stating “Police kill” and accused security forces of violence.
In Paris, police used batons, tear gas, and stun grenades, particularly at Place de la Nation, where some protesters threw objects and stones at armored vehicles while chanting “everyone hates the police.” Other clashes occurred in Lyon and Strasbourg, where parents and other adults positioned themselves between students and police. Some students have criticized school conditions, citing the presence of rats and asbestos in buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Student Protests
What specific fee increases triggered the earlier protests in Belgium?
Demonstrators in Brussels clashed with police in June following a reform that raised zápisné for the majority of students in French-language areas from 835 to 1,194 euros.
How many people have been detained or injured in France since September?
Police have arrested over 6,600 individuals across France since the movement began in mid-September.
Which specific cities outside of Paris saw major clashes on Tuesday?
Significant demonstrations, roadblocks, and police interventions involving tear gas and batons occurred in Lille, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Lyon, Strasbourg, and the Alsatian capital.
What emergency alert system was activated in Liège?
Belgian authorities utilized the official governmental warning system BE-Alert to instruct local residents to stay away from the city center and direct merchants to shut down their shops immediately.
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