Farmers unhappy with EU green restrictions have taken their protest to the Luxemburgplein in the vicinity of the European parliament. Attacked by farmers hurling (empty) beer crates police decided to hose down the protesters (VIDEO at bottom of page).
Farmers from countless European nations have joined the protest that brought tractors to the European downtown.
The presence of hundreds of tractors in the streets in and around the European District has been reported.
Police have cordoned off the entire area.
Fires have been lit and there are reports of acts of vandalism.
Many of protesters are young farmers from southern Belgium. A large Italian presence has also been noted.
There is a massive police presence. So far, farmers have on the main been well-behaved.
Later it turned nasty as farmers hurled eggs and bottles.
As the day progressed and more and more crates of beer ended up empty protesting farmers decided to use the crates as projectiles, which they aimed at the Belgian police.
By early evening the first farmers started to quit the Luxemburgplein heading out of Brussels on their tractors in various directions. Just before they left they decided to plough up the lawn at the centre of the square.
There are reports the farmers now intend to blockade the Brussels orbital with their tractors.