arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Tension mounting at D14 demo
by Uri Gordon Friday December 14, 2001 at 01:58 PM

Black Bloc members attacked banks and a police station * Police are preparing water cannons and tear gas * Provocateurs spotted in the demo, coaxing people to go to Laeken

As the demo was arriving in Place Bockstael, the Black Bloc stoned selected targets - four banks and a police station. Police did not respond to this attack, indicating their interest in promoting friction during the demo. Demonstrators and legal representatives have definite evidence of police provocateurs among the demonstrators - people in street clothes, who were seen approaching Black Bloc participants, showing them the direction to the Laeken Palace and coaxing them to go there. No Black Bloc-ers have responded to this attempt by the police. Legal teams have been notified of the presence of provocateurs, and have expressed their anger at this since the town authorities have promised that there would not be undercover police in the demo. Due to this pressure at least some of the provocateurs have left. The police are reinforcing their weaponry at the demo, preparing water cannons and tear gas.