Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) said at a press conference on Thursday, October 8, that an antifa-type movement is active in Liège and is manipulating minors; in his view the riots are no longer a spontaneous school protest (The Brussels Times, Brussels Signal). He also places responsibility with parents and schools. Mayor Willy Demeyer (PS) limited gatherings in the street to three people, until October 16 at 11 p.m., with exceptions for families, accompanied minors and school routes. According to local police there have been 194 arrests since October 1, 114 of them minors, and 43 officers were injured. Police chief Jean-Marc Demelenne says more and more rioters are adults. The movement spread to Mons, Charleroi and Brussels. A tense debate arose in the Chamber; Quintin would not say whether a bill to dissolve radical organisations could be used against antifa (BX1).
The issue has shifted from an education debate to a question of public order and political blame. An emergency ordinance that restricts gatherings touches on the right to demonstrate.
Anyone living in or passing through Liège must take the ban on gatherings of more than three people in the street into account until October 16. The minister is appealing to parents about their responsibility.
The minister and the city administration say order must be restored and that adults are manipulating young people.
The Ligue des droits humains voices concern about the dissolution bill, and critics say the minister’s statements add fuel to the fire.
A ban and a label are not an answer to the school students’ demands. Education policy remains the cause of the protest. Watch whether the ordinance is extended after October 16 and for a reply from the education minister responsible.
The Brussels Times, Brussels Signal, BX1, VRT NWS (Oct. 8, 2026)
Liège bans gatherings of more than three people, Minister Quintin points to “antifa”: 194 arrests since October 1
At the school-student protests in Wallonia, local police say 114 minors have been arrested and 43 officers injured. Mayor Demeyer issued an emergency ordinance; the minister places the responsibility on an “antifa movement”.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) said at a press conference on Thursday, October 8, that an antifa-type movement is active in Liège and is manipulating minors, according to The Brussels Times and Brussels Signal. In his view the riots are no longer a spontaneous school protest; he also places responsibility with parents and schools. The VRT explained that day what antifa is. Critics say his statements add fuel to the fire. In the Chamber, Quintin would not say whether a bill to dissolve radical organisations could be used against antifa groups (BX1).
Mayor Willy Demeyer (PS) limited gatherings in the street to three people by emergency ordinance, from October 8 until October 16 at 11 p.m., with exceptions for families, accompanied minors and school routes. According to local police there have been 194 arrests since October 1, 114 of them minors; 43 officers were injured. Police chief Jean-Marc Demelenne says more and more rioters are adults. The movement spread to Mons, Charleroi and Brussels. DailyDrop saw no evidence for the claim that antifa is steering the protests.