Black Lives Matter demonstrations turned violent in the center of Brussels, protesters firing, vandalizing a police vehicle and throwing stones at the Belgian monarch’s car at one point.
King Philippe was traveling home to his castle, Laeken Palace, from his offices in Brussels on Wednesday when his car was surrounded, according to local reports and footage.
Photos from the European Pressphoto Agency show the king’s car in the middle of the protest; a pair of guards were on the ground protecting the vehicle, identifiable by the license plate, which bears the number “1.”
No injuries or damage were reported to the king.
Four people were arrested in protest on Thursday, three of them being charged with arson.
About 500 people were protesting against Saturday’s police death in the custody of a 23-year-old man whose identity has not been officially released.
The suspect tried to flee from Brussels police, which enforce COVID-19 restrictions in the city center, officials said.
With Post threads