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2,500 form human chain to stop raid on migrant camp

22:00 21/01/2018

An estimated 2,500 people formed a human chain in the streets around Brussels North station to show solidarity towards migrants, after news emerged that a police raid on the Maximilian Park camp was imminent.

The League of Human Rights had received a tip-off about plans for a large-scale police operation on Sunday evening, timed to coincide with the evening meal distribution to migrants on the station esplanade.

Volunteers for a citizens' action group offered temporary shelter in their homes for 300 migrants to ensure they were not staying in the park at the time.

A spokesman for the refugee assistance platform said: "We were expecting people to mobilise, but we honestly didn't expect thousands of people. I'm very happy that so many people have come to stand up for a more humane migration policy."

"We'd been prepared for the past week. Families were ready to accommodate a maximum number of people."

Photo: Nicolas Materlinck/Belga