Belgian police use water cannon to move on protesters in Brussels on day of union strike

(14 Oct 2025) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Brussels - 14 October 2025 1. Protesters chanting behind line of police 2. Damaged windows of Belgian Immigration Office building 3. Protesters cheering, zoom in 4. Man being checked by police 5. Protesters being escorted onto police buses 6. Protesters chanting behind line of police 7. Protesters chanting near police buses, flare burning 8. Police water cannon arriving 9. Police scuffling with protesters, zoom in, water cannon firing, zoom out 10. Protesters facing off with police line 11. Zoom out as water cannon starts firing, police advancing, water cannon firing again 12. Protesters facing off with police line STORYLINE: Belgian police used a water cannon to clear thousands of protesters in Brussels on Tuesday as trade unions called a national strike over austerity measures. Minor scuffles broke out in the city's downtown between officers and demonstrators, some of whom played drums and horns while chanting against cuts to social welfare programs. Authorities were also seen escorting some people onto buses before the escalation. Organizers estimated more than 150,000 were in attendance while the police put the crowd at 80,000. Belgium’s three major trade unions organized the protest as well as nationwide strikes against cuts to the pension and healthcare systems proposed by Prime Minister Bart De Wever. He has vowed to slash spending to try and overcome Belgium's economic challenges. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...