BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, some 340 football fans gathered in the city of Vilvoorde and made their way to the Brussels Stock Exchange where people have been laying flowers and lighting candles in memory of those who died in the suicide bombings. According to the police statement, the crowd attacked one of the shops as they headed toward the North railway station in Brussels. All public places in the region were closed following the incident.
Police started to push back the nationalists as they reached the stock exchange, which triggered clashes between officers and protesters.
“They were pushed back, about ten people were detained,” the police statement said.
Earlier media reports said, police were forced to use water cannons to disperse the hundreds-strong group.
On Saturday, a memorial ceremony, which was due to take place in Brussels earlier in the day, was canceled after a request from the interior minister and the mayor.
Two suicide blasts ripped through the Brussels Airport departure hall in the northeastern municipality of Zaventem on March 22. A further explosion occurred at the Maelbeek station near EU institutions. A total of 31 people, including 3 suicide bombers, died in the attacks. More than 300 were injured.
