Police in multiple European countries moved Friday to contain unrest linked to education protests, detain suspects in criminal cases and investigate alleged misconduct within their own ranks, as tensions flared from Brussels to Bucharest and beyond.
In Belgium, officers in Brussels dispersed fresh clashes near the Central Station after teachers and students rallied for a second day against a new decree programme adopted overnight in the Federation Wallonia-Brussels parliament. Authorities reported at least 1,500 demonstrators in Liège and confirmed arrests at the capital’s main rail hub, where police used tear gas to break up confrontations . The Belgian League of Human Rights condemned what it called a disproportionate police response, citing water cannon and baton charges against largely peaceful crowds . Meanwhile, several schools in Namur remained closed Friday afternoon as authorities maintained a heightened security presence .
In Romania, prosecutors extended pre-trial detention for two prosecutors from Constanța accused of corruption, adding another 30 days to their custody as the High Court of Cassation and Justice approved the request . Separately, Bucharest police charged a driver with attempting to bribe a traffic officer with €2,000 to avoid criminal charges, escalating his offer to €20,000 when the officer refused the initial sum . Authorities also dismantled a drug trafficking network operating in luxury clubs across the capital, detaining 22 suspects accused of selling psychoactive substances to young patrons at high-end events .
In Finland, police named teenagers as suspects in the killing of fledgling birds in a residential district of Espoo, prompting calls for increased patrols in the area . Swedish media reported disturbances in Helsingør on the final school day, where youths threw cans and sparked minor unrest .
Germany’s national rail operator Deutsche Bahn began testing protective helmets for staff in Berlin after a surge in attacks, including fireworks and rocket attacks on employees during high-risk deployments . In the Czech Republic, former underworld figure László Radnai voluntarily surrendered to authorities after a decade-long international manhunt, ending a 2025 conviction for mafia-related crimes .
South Korean police ended a 35-hour protest at a polling station in Seoul, dispersing demonstrators who had barricaded themselves inside to contest election procedures .