In a significant escalation of civil unrest, thousands of rioters took to the streets of Brussels, Belgium, to protest against controversial education reforms. The demonstrations began peacefully but quickly turned violent as protesters clashed with police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas. The reforms propose a substantial increase in university fees from €835 to €1,194 and require secondary school teachers to work an additional two hours weekly without extra pay. Protesters expressed their outrage over these changes, with one teacher stating that the reforms would lead to increased workloads and larger class sizes. The chaos saw rioters smashing windows, setting fires, and damaging property throughout the capital. Authorities advised the public to avoid the area as the situation deteriorated. This unrest follows similar violent incidents in Paris, where over 400 arrests were made during riots linked to a Champions League match. The unrest in Brussels reflects growing discontent over government policies affecting education and public services.