Partiers protest Belgium's virus rules medics demand support

Thousands of protesters angry at pandemic-related restrictions marched to European Union headquarters in Brussels and had minor tussles with police over their unauthorized gathering

BRUSSELS -- Thousands of protesters angry at pandemic-related restrictions marched to European Union headquarters in Brussels on Saturday and had minor tussles with police over their unauthorized gathering. The crowd initially assembled in a Brussels park for a party designed to flout Belgium’s COVID-19 rules and a related gathering calling for Europeans to claim back their freedom. Participants then marched to the district of the Belgian capital that houses key EU buildings. Police officers blocked them and had dispersed the marchers by early evening after minor scuffles. Similar anti-lockdown parties in recent weeks in the La Cambre woods drew thousands of people and led to clashes with police who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse rowdy crowds, resulting in numerous arrests and injuries.