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But hours later, Belgian police arrived outside just as Mr Farage took to the stage to give his keynote address.
Emile Kiel, the mayor of the district where the event was being held said he issued the closure order “to ensure public safety.” He added that “the far right is not welcome” in the city.
“I knew I wouldn’t be welcome back in Brussels,” said Farage, a former Brexit Party leader, drawing laughter from the audience.
The speech continued while police stood at the entrance, letting people out but not letting them in. Among those blocked was Eric Zemmour, who ran as a far-right candidate in the 2022 French presidential election. he accused The mayor has ties to “Turkish Islamists” and uses the police like a “private militia.”
Orbán, who was scheduled to speak on Thursday, posted on X that Belgian police had decided to cancel the event because “free speech can no longer be tolerated.”
“If the globalists in Brussels had put as much energy into securing our borders as they do trying to silence conservatives, perhaps our continent would be in a much healthier place.” said former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who spoke after Mr Farage.
For most of the day Tuesday, there were no counter-protesters outside, only media and police. Tea and canapés were safely served inside the store.
Belgian Federal Police confirmed that the Palace of Justice had to be temporarily evacuated after receiving bomb threats throughout the town.
Around 5:30 p.m., about 40 people appeared outside the meeting and began shouting anti-fascist slogans. Demonstrators remained approximately 300 feet from the conference venue, monitored by police in riot gear.
Organized by the right-wing think tank Edmund Burke Foundation, the conference had a difficult time finding a venue, but organizers had two options before settling on a location not far from the European Quarter.
When the event began on Tuesday, attendees gathered in a small, damp event hall to listen to a panel discussion featuring Flemish nationalists and far-right academics critical of the European Union, “gender theory” and immigration. Tilt.
Last-minute venue changes were a recurring theme. Organizers and speakers claimed this was evidence of a censorship campaign against conservatives around the world.
Then excited whispers were heard among the audience: the police are coming. Organizers and journalists rushed to the front of the building as various reporters and attendees broadcast the news live.
John O’Brian, head of communications at MCC Brussels, a pro-Orban think tank, said: “This is an attempt to cancel freedom of speech and prevent elected officials and others from gathering for conversation. It must be cancelled,” he said.
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