I visited Brussels for a spot of Christmas shopping this morning. As I walked along Rue Neuve, I noticed that the side streets were barricaded with barbed wire and that the riot police were out in force.

Brussels demonstration

Brussels demonstration

Apparently, it was a demonstration by healthcare workers and passed off without incident. It certainly sounded very good-natured, except for one thing: the occasional bang of something explosive going off. If you look at the left-hand background of the second image above, you might be able to see some of the smoke/gas. I assume it wasn’t tear gas, but I don’t know what it was.