Riot police dismantle military protest against raised retirement age

A procession of nearly 8,000 soldiers on Tuesday demonstrated in Brussels against the raised pension age for military in Belgium. While the protest march began peacefully, riot police were eventually called in to use tear gas and water cannons against the increasingly restless crowd, reports De Morgen.

Because soldiers normally have no right to strike, the unions chose King's Day on 15 November, an official holiday for the soldiers, to bring the demonstrators together in Brussels.

An estimated 8,000 protesters left Brussels North Station in the afternoon, passing by Bozar and Central Station before finally arriving at Albertine Square around 15.30. Traffic was greatly disrupted.

The demonstration began peacefully but quickly spiralled out of control, according to the local police. Demonstrators occupied the cabinet of defence minister Steven Vandeput and refused to leave. Around 14.30, they finally left the area around Rue Lambermont and marched to Albertina Square, where the protest was dismantled.