Unlike Belgium, Morocco managed to win their qualification for the 1/8th finals following their victory against Canada. An impressive security device was deployed in the city center to prevent overflowas was the case in Morocco’s victory last Sunday.
After the final whistle, the boulevards of the city center were quickly invaded by hundreds of Moroccan supporters who, in joy and good humor, celebrated the victory of their people.
Brussels “under siege” this afternoon for the Morocco match: “An extraordinary security system”
A certain nervousness reigned in the head of the forces of order but no altercation is to be deplored. A few incidents have occurred such as an individual who is mounted on a bus or construction furniture used as projectiles but without gravity. A police cordon made it possible to avoid any intrusion towards the pleasures of Winter and towards the businesses of the top of the City.
Around 7:30 p.m., when traffic was reopened, around fifty young people attacked motorists by opening the trunks and creating havoc. Obviously, the intervention platoons had not received the order to intervene.
A certain social control has also set in, with particularly turbulent young people calmed down by older ones. “They made us proud there, don’t shame us in front of people!“, exclaims a biker carried by the crowd.
Administrative arrests were made during the afternoon while strict measures were taken upstream to avoid any overflow. Vehicles could not park on Boulevard Lemonnier and soft mobility devices such as shared electric scooters, used as a projectile and set on fire last Sunday, were prohibited from parking in this area. The cars parked on boulevard Lemonnier were repaired. The City of Brussels will cover the repair costs because the prohibition signs were only put up last night, far from the regulatory deadline.
The mayor also recommended that traders close their shops. Fruit and vegetable vendors must also tidy up their displays.
On the other hand, several public transport lines have been interrupted, in particular bus line 13, between Simonis and Étangs noirs, as well as bus line 20, between Bastogne and Suzan Daniel and bus 48, between Chapelle and Anneessens. Tram 51 is also interrupted between Porte de Ninove and Gare du Midi, as well as 82 between Gare de l’Ouest and Gare du Midi.