Riots at the headquarters of Vlaams Belang when Bardella came to the radical right

Rioters attacked the Vlaams Belang headquarters in central Brussels last night. Hundreds of supporters of, among others, the Belgian Anti-Fascist Coordination and the Anti-Fascist Front Liège protested against the arrival of the radical French politician Jordan Bardella, who was in Brussels for his book presentation.

Several demonstrators tried to break through police barriers and threw fireworks. The police then used tear gas and water cannon. The demonstrators then moved to the office of Vlaams Belang, the right-wing Belgian nationalist party.

People in black clothes and face masks stormed the building and destroyed windows. They tried to enter the building, but could have been prevented, Brussels police told broadcaster VRT.

Road signs were then knocked down in the area and rubbish bins were thrown on the road. The Belgian police have arrested 40 people while investigating the extent of the damage.

Bardella, the leader of France’s far-right party, Rassemblement National, was in Brussels to present his book at the House of Hungary, where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stays when he is in Brussels. The area around the Hungarian House was cordoned off by the police because of the book exhibition.

In response, Vlaams Belang said it was not involved in the presentation of Bardella’s book. The party says violence “always comes from the left” and wants an apology from Brussels mayor Kir, saying he did not do enough against the mob – riot.