Clashes erupted when riot police in Brussels used tear gas, water cannons and batons to disperse protesters outside a train station on October 12, after protests over the cost of living and government spending cuts turned violent. Tens of thousands of people gathered around the Belgian capital in recent days. Tensions escalated when groups of young protesters dressed in black clashed with security forces amid anger over the government's economic policies.

Clashes erupted when riot police in Brussels used tear gas, water cannons and batons to disperse protesters outside a train station on October 12, after protests over the cost of living and government spending cuts turned violent. Tens of thousands of people gathered around the Belgian capital in recent days. Tensions escalated when groups of young protesters dressed in black clashed with security forces amid anger over the government's economic policies.