BRUSSELS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-two police officers were wounded in riots in central Brussels late Saturday night, Belgian newspaper la DH reported citing a report Sunday released by Olivier Slosse, the Police Commissioner for the Brussels district of Ixelles.
Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon condemned on Sunday the riots: "An unacceptable (outburst) of aggression. Living together implies respect, as well as for our police forces who work day and night to guarantee our security."
Public criticism has targeted the police for their slow intervention.
In response, Olivier Slosse said "We will take into account these claims in the evaluation that ensures. These are legitimate issues and concerns that we do not want to remain deaf to."
The riot erupted after a World Cup qualifying match in which Morocco defeated Ivory Coast. People of Moroccan origin account for about 4 percent of Belgium's total population.
According to la DH, around 200 to 300 people gathered at "La Bourse", a landmark building in downtown Brussels Saturday night, and hurled projectiles at police officers. A bystander was injured by a projectile and needed medical care urgently.
It wasn't until around 00:30 a.m. on Sunday morning that order was restored and local police forces and federal police aid were removed.
A report from a Police Commissioner suggests no one has yet been arrested, but CCTV cameras have captured images that could be used for evidence in a court case.
But the response of the police officers drew some public criticism.
A witness interviewed by RTL at the scene said "The atmosphere was good-natured, but the police started charging and water cannons started firing for no good reason and I find it unacceptable for them to play this provocative game."
Another witness added "I work at the fire department, I was there, the police broke up, there was a good atmosphere and the police charged the kids and it escalated."
The police opted to neutralize the situation by forcing the rioters away from the busy area of La Bourse and towards the Gare du Midi.
However, small groups continued to gather on Boulevard Lemonnier, requiring further police presence to restore order. The water cannon had to be put into immediate effect.
