Thousands march through Brussels ‘against terror and hate’ in wake of suicide attacks

Thousands of people walked through central Brussels on Sunday in “a march against terror and hate”, almost one month after two co-ordinated attacks by Islamic State-affiliated suicide bombers struck the Belgian capital killing 32 people and injuring more than 300.

Also taking part in the march, which had been previously been postponed on security grounds, were some victims of the attacks and their families.

It was a crowd as diverse as Brussels, with politicians, city officials and metro drivers mingling among everyday Bruxellois. Among the families with strollers, retired people and dog-walkers were police and army soldiers weighed down by rifles, along with the odd waffle seller.

Despite some campaigners handing out flyers for a ragtag of unrelated causes, this was an apolitical gathering. People walked in silence, with few chants or songs to break over the hum of the nearby traffic.

“We wanted to show that we are not afraid and we love our city,” said Anaïs Maes, a 32-year old teacher, who was taking part in the march with her husband, toddler and friends. She felt the government had over-reacted to the threat by flooding the streets with army and police. “There is no way of protecting fully against terrorism, that is the definition of terrorism, it is unnecessary to have the security measures we have now because [the threat] is not going to stop.”

Philippe Lamberts, MEP for Brussels, said that Belgians had shown an “emotional but not hysterical” response to the attacks without demands for a police state.

Police estimated the turnout at 7,000. Organisers suggested the crowds numbered 10,000, though this fell short of the 15,000 they had hoped for.