Qatar 2022: Moroccan fans unleash terror in Brussels after victory against Belgium

Morocco’s victory against Belgium (2-0) in the World Cup in Qatar unleashed chaos and terror in downtown Brussels, the Belgian capital. Dozens of Moroccan fans living in the European country took to the streets to vandalize public property, private vehicles, and attack forces of law and order in a series of attacks that resulted in more than 20 arrests and left one journalist injured.

Images went viral on social media showing fans smashing vehicles and lighting scooters on fire.

Arresting troublemakers

According to local media reports, the events began midway through the second half of the match, when some Moroccan waved their flags and launched fireworks. As the hours went by, the terror began with more than 150 people setting garbage cans on fire. They destroyed city property and damaged private vehicles parked in the streets.

Candidate for the presidency of the French Republic Eric Zemmour described the Moroccan riots in the Belgian capital: "In Brussels, after the victory of Morocco, a Moroccan supporter mounts at the window of a Belgian to take away his neckerchief under the cheers of the crowd.... What a symbol!"

Police said in a statement that before the end of the match "several dozen people, some of them hooded, sought confrontation with law enforcement, which compromised public safety." To establish order they used tear gas and two water cannons against the rioters. Parts of the Belgian capital were closed and subway service had to be interrupted.

The mayor of the city of Brussels, Philip Close, condemned the incidents and ordered "the police to proceed with administrative arrests of the rioters."

In addition to Brussels, there were riots triggered by Moroccan fans in other areas of that country such as Antwerp and Liège, as well as in Dutch cities such as Rotterdam and The Hague.