Police launch investigation as cyclist is deliberately hit by car

Police in Brussels have opened an investigation into an incident in which a motorist deliberately hit a cyclist in the centre of the capital, according to a report carried by several media outlets on Saturday and confirmed later by the police. The victim filmed the incident and posted a video of it on Twitter.

The video shows how the car cuts off the cyclist's route on Place Royale as he was heading towards Rue de Namur. The car stops, presumably because the cyclist has caught the driver’s attention.

A brief verbal quarrel ensues between the cyclist and the driver of the car. When the cyclist begins his journey again, moving in front of the vehicle, the car restarts and strikes the cyclist, knocking him off his bike.

The car then drives off. The incident left the cyclist with some scratches. He has since filed a complaint.

Brussels mayor Philippe Close, meanwhile, said he had asked the police to launch an investigation into what he called 'unacceptable behaviour'.