Student protests over education reforms escalated again in the Belgian city of Liège on Tuesday, with police using tear gas after vandalism and fires were reported in the city center.
Students marched from Place Saint-Lambert toward several secondary schools, while some groups smashed windows and set fire to bins and electric scooters. Several businesses temporarily closed as the unrest spread through central Liège.
The protests oppose education reforms and budget cuts in French-speaking Belgium. One of the most contested measures increases classroom teaching requirements for upper-secondary teachers from 20 to 22 periods per week.
The Liège prosecutor said 22 police officers suffered injuries during Monday’s disturbances and announced a “zero tolerance” approach toward criminal acts. A 13-year-old was detained Tuesday after allegedly posting calls on social media encouraging others to bring petrol to burn a school.
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