185 climate activists arrested at Brussels Motor Show

Police arrested 185 activists from the Extinction Rebellion movement for an act of "civil disobedience" on the closing weekend of the Brussels Motor Show.

The protesters targeted the stands of many of the major car brands, denouncing what they called "the lies of the automotive sector" and calling for "another mobility model" in the face of the climate crisis.

Participants climbed on to an advertising hoarding at the main entance, unrolling a banner reading: "Stop CO² emissions". Some chained themselves to the cars on display, or sprayed graffiti and fake blood on the vehicles. The activists then lay on the ground, pretending to be dead.

Belgian automobile federation Febiac condemned the protest. It said in a statement: "The efforts of the automotive sector to move towards low- and zero-emissions transport have never been so clear or so accessible to consumers.

"Never before have so many hybrid and electric vehicles been exhibited and put on sale at the Motor Show. This is the result of massive investments and continuous innovation."

An estimated 450,000 visitors attended this year's show, which closed on Sunday.