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Brussels to have increased police presence for football matches - mayor

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close Copyright  Euronews
Copyright Euronews
By Méabh Mc Mahon
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A street in Brussels was badly damaged after a group of angry football fans flung furniture and scooters and put a car on fire.

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The city of Brussels will have an increased police presence ahead of World Cup football matches this week, the mayor told Euronews after clashes broke out due to Morocco's victory over Belgium in the tournament.

Belgian police detained a dozen people on Sunday, deploying water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds.

"We are a very cosmopolitan city in Brussels. We have 184 nationalities. So, every day there is a team that wins and a team that pays, but a team that wins. If you want to party, no problem," said Philippe Close, the mayor of Brussels.

"If you come to break furniture, if you come to break in town, you will have to deal with the Brussels police," he added, insisting that the city does not have a problem integrating minority groups.

He blamed the riots on Sunday on a small group of "thugs", adding that police had control of the situation within two hours.

Close confirmed that there "will be a lot of police" when Morocco plays Canada on Thursday.

Watch the interview in the video player above.

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