Violent Fuel Protests in Brussels

by Rob Walker | June 5, 2008 at 01:28 pm

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Dozens of angry fishermen were arrested in Brussels after scuffles and violence broke out during a protest against rising fuel prices.

The fishermen, mostly from France and Italy, occupied the European Commission's headquarters and fired flares at police, who then charged them.

The price of marine deisel has risen by 30 per cent in the past four months.

Dozens of fishermen have been arrested in Brussels after violence broke out when protesters failed to convince the European Commission to subsidise them to soften the blow of soaring fuel prices. The fishermen, mostly from France and Italy, occupied the commission's headquarters, setting off flares against police, who then charged them.

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French fishermen say they will be out of work unless they obtain discounted diesel at $0.62 per litre as opposed to $1.23 per litre on the open market.