Riots after Morocco’s World Cup win, riot police deployed in The Hague and Rotterdam

NOS News•today, 17:57•Amended today, 6:31 pm

The celebration of the Moroccan national team’s victory over Belgium has led to riots in several places. The ME has been deployed in The Hague and Rotterdam. It is also restless in Amsterdam.

In Rotterdam, a group of about 500 young people throws glass and fireworks at the police. On the Vaillantplein in The Hague, in the Transvaal district, supporters of the Moroccan national team opened the car doors of passers-by. When the atmosphere turned grim, riot police were deployed to disperse the crowd.

In Amsterdam-West near the Mercatorplein, a partying crowd causes a nuisance. Fires have been set and fireworks are set off. Buses and trams are diverted.

Cheers and riots after Morocco Belgium

In Brussels, the police had prepared for riots, and it turned out not for nothing. The Flemish public broadcaster VRT reports that hundreds of young people set fires and threw bottles during the match. Glass was also thrown at the camera crew’s car. Things got out of hand especially at Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier, near the South Station.

Images show how the rioters sit on a moving car during the game, which later lies upside down on the street. One of the youths empties a fire extinguisher, while others smash into the vehicle. Electric scooters are also set on fire and car windows are smashed.

Youths were dispersed with water cannons. The police called on people to avoid the area around Zuidlaan.

Before the game, young people threw fireworks and vandalism was caused. The situation in the center also got out of hand, reports the Belgian site Nieuwsblad.be.