Two Code Rouge activists under electronic surveillance after 19 raids; 15 arrested; 56 organisations denounce 'criminalisation of social movements'

Police raids and arrests

On Wednesday, 11 June, Belgian police carried out 19 house searches across the country targeting individuals linked to the climate activist group Code Rouge (Code Rood in Dutch). In a coordinated operation led by an investigating judge in Ghent, officers entered homes around 5 a.m., broke down doors, and seized mobile phones, laptops, and notebooks. Fifteen people were taken in for questioning; six were presented to the investigating judge on Thursday. The judge ordered two individuals to be placed under electronic supervision, requiring them to wear ankle bracelets. They are scheduled to appear before the council chamber on 16 June. The East Flanders public prosecutor's office confirmed the operation was conducted under an investigation opened after two complaints filed with civil party status.

Actions that prompted the investigation

The two complaints stem from protests carried out by Code Rouge in 2025. In March 2025, several hundred activists occupied the agri-food company Cargill’s facility in the port of Ghent to denounce the ecological and social impacts of agro‑business. More than 125 demonstrators were detained during that action, and Cargill subsequently filed a complaint directly with the investigating judge.

In October 2025, activists blocked the Industeel plant, owned by steel giant ArcelorMittal, in Marchienne‑au‑Pont near Charleroi. The group accused the company of complicity in shipping steel to the Israeli military. The protest caused heavy damage: according to the prosecutor’s statement, cables were cut, emergency stops were pressed, and fences were destroyed, which created an explosion hazard and a risk of lethal gas leaks. Infrabel, the rail infrastructure manager, also initiated legal proceedings after demonstrators occupied railway lines, disrupting train services.

Heavy damage was caused, cables cut, emergency stops pressed and fences destroyed. These actions brought explosion danger and the risk of fatal gas leaks, as well as major material damage.

Reaction from Code Rouge and civil society

Code Rouge immediately denounced the raids. In a statement released Thursday, the group described the police operation as “a traumatising and disproportionate experience” and an example of “violent repression by the state.”

The police broke down their doors, searched their homes, seized their phones, laptops and notebooks, as well as those of their partners and housemates. All this in front of their children, friends or family. A traumatising and disproportionate experience for all those concerned.

On Thursday, 56 civil society organisations – including Greenpeace Belgium, the Human Rights League (LDH), the NGOs CNCD‑11.11.11, Oxfam, and the trade unions FGTB and CSC – issued a joint statement condemning “the trend of criminalisation of social movements increasingly observed in Belgium.” They called for broad support to defend the right to protest and the rule of law.

We call for broad support to defend the right to protest and our rule of law.

Broader political and legal context

The raids come amid a broader debate over the policing of radical protest. The Belgian Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAM) had previously warned in a report about a possible radicalisation of some members of Code Rouge. Separately, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) is promoting a draft law that would allow the administrative banning of “radical organisations.” Code Rouge is often cited by the bill’s supporters as a target. However, in January 2026 the Council of State rejected a portion of the text, citing multiple legal flaws. The bill remains stalled.

Next steps

The two activists under electronic supervision must appear before the council chamber on 16 June. The prosecution has not disclosed whether further charges will be brought against other individuals who were questioned.