The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, was pictured inspecting his damaged HQ in Brussels after Covid-19 protests turned violent
The head of the European Union’s External Action Service on Sunday said that he “strongly condemns”He called it “senseless destruction and violence” after his agency’s headquarters were attacked by an angry mob during a massive anti-lockdown rally.
Borrell expressed his gratitude to the police for their assistance during the incident. The top diplomat also posted a picture of himself inside what appears to be the EU diplomatic service’s office. The photo shows large impact marks left on the office’s glass walls in the wake of an apparent attack.
Videos published earlier on Sunday showed black-clad masked protesters pelting the entrance to the agency’s headquarters with various projectiles and even using some wooden planks to break inside as a group of police officers entrenched in the building sought to stop the crowd with tear gas.
The incident came against the background of clashes between the police and protesters, who’d taken to the streets of the Belgian capital to supposedly defend their freedoms and voice their discontent over the measures taken by the European nations to stop the Covid-19 pandemic.
The assault on the EU diplomatic service’s office was also condemned by the agency’s Secretary General Stefano Sannino, who denouncedIt is a “despicable, shameful attack.”Sannino expressed gratitude to the police for their efforts in protecting the building, and promised that his agency would do the same. “keep proudly serving”The EU.
Although anti-lockdown protests are not uncommon in Brussels, it is the first instance of an attack on an EU institution by such a crowd. According to officials, around 50,000 people attended the Sunday protest, some of them from other European nations.
Police say that at least 70 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. The media reported that 12 protesters and officers of the police were also taken into hospital. They were told their injuries weren’t life-threatening.
This story can be shared on social media
[ad_2]
