RTBF Authenticates Videos of Police Misconduct: Insults and Far-Right Symbols in Brussels
Belgium’s public broadcaster RTBF has authenticated multiple videos showing Brussels police officers displaying far-right symbols on their equipment, making sexist and transphobic insults, and smoking cigars while on duty during protests against education budget cuts on June 5, 2026. The investigation, published on June 9, has sparked public outrage and prompted an internal police investigation.
Background: Protests Against Education Cuts
The incidents occurred during large-scale demonstrations against the “décret-programme” — an austerity package for education passed by the Parliament of the French Community of Belgium on June 4. The reforms triggered massive mobilization from teachers, students, and parents, with thousands gathering near the Parliament building. On June 4, approximately 14 people were arrested as tensions flared. The following day, further protests erupted near Brussels-Central station, resulting in approximately 100 apprehensions and 10 judicial arrests, according to RTBF. Police reported that individuals had set fire to a vehicle, multiple trash bins, and containers, while projectiles and fireworks were thrown at officers.
The Investigation
RTBF journalist Guillaume Woelfle obtained the original unedited footage from activist media outlet Bruxelles Dévie and subjected it to rigorous verification through metadata analysis, GPS geolocation, and cross-referencing with witness accounts. The authentication was crucial because both police and political authorities had initially urged caution, noting that the images had not yet been formally verified. Mayor Philippe Close himself had called for prudence, stating that “judicial and disciplinary time is not the same as media time.”
The Four Authenticated Videos
The investigation identified four distinct incidents, all occurring on June 5.
Far-Right Symbol on Police Equipment
The most alarming video shows a police officer from the Brussels Capital-Ixelles zone carrying a tear gas canister displaying a Templar Cross and the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” (God Wills It). The officer claimed the stickers came from protesters, but RTBF’s analysis confirmed the sticker was deliberately placed. Multiple academic experts confirmed these are symbols used by far-right identitarian movements. Political scientist Jean-Yves Camus told RTBF that the symbols represent “the idea of re-actualizing the crusades, not abroad but on our soil.”
Transphobic and Sexist Insults
A second video captures a hooded officer asking a protester: “Are you a man or a woman? Or are you a chair today?” — a transphobic insult repeated three times. The comment mocks gender identity and comes amid statistics showing 80% of transgender people in Belgium report experiencing discrimination. A fourth video shows a plainclothes officer uttering a sexist insult (“Sale p*te”) before walking away.
Officer Smoking a Cigar
Another video shows a railway police officer smoking a cigar while on a “hospitality” mission meant to help tourists enter Brussels-Central station during the unrest. According to SudInfo, the officer was not on the front lines of protest management.
Official Responses
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close (PS) promised sanctions “up to dismissal” if the allegations are confirmed, while calling for caution in interpreting the images. Speaking on BX1, Close stated: “If the investigation shows there were excesses, there will be sanctions.”
The Brussels Capital-Ixelles police zone opened an internal investigation but urged caution, stating that such clips “often only show a precise moment and do not necessarily reflect the complete course of events.” The Federal Police did not respond to RTBF’s requests for comment.
The SLFP police union called for focusing on protester violence rather than “police officers who smoke,” while the Human Rights League denounced disproportionate police reactions.
Analysis: Extremism in Law Enforcement
The authentication of these videos raises serious questions about extremist elements within Belgian law enforcement. Historian Stéphane François, a far-right specialist at UMons and CNRS, confirmed to RTBF that the Templar Cross and “Deus Vult” have been used since the 2000s as rallying cries by identitarian far-right movements. He noted that while not all who use these symbols are neo-fascists, they represent “the idea of re-actualizing the crusades, not abroad but on our soil.”
Florian Besson, a medieval history PhD specializing in crusades, explained that crusader imagery is widely reused online to “call for violence or legitimize a passage to violence in the real world.” The symbols have appeared at demonstrations by far-right groups such as Britain First in the United Kingdom, linking the Brussels incident to a broader European pattern.
The transphobic and sexist comments also highlight concerns about discrimination within the ranks. According to the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men, insults and discrimination based on gender identity are criminal offenses under Belgian law.
What’s Next
On June 8, approximately 2,500 people protested against police violence in Brussels, with tensions running high. The internal police investigation is ongoing, and Mayor Close has indicated that disciplinary measures could follow, including dismissal. The case has intensified debates about police accountability, the screening processes for law enforcement personnel, and far-right extremism within European police institutions. The RTBF investigation has ensured that the footage cannot be dismissed as unverified, placing pressure on authorities to deliver transparent and meaningful outcomes.