France’s “yellow vest” movement spread to Belgium on Friday, as police turned water cannon on stone-throwing protesters who torched two police vehicles in central Brussels.

The Belgian protests came as France prepared for “Act 3” of nationwide protests against “green” fuel tax hikes and the high cost of living. These are showing little sign of abating after talks between yellow vest representatives and the prime minister ended in fiasco.

In Brussels, around 300 people demonstrated near major EU buildings with at least 60 arrested in possession of box-cutters, smoke bombs or tear gas canisters.

Two police vans were tipped over and torched as the stand-off continued and the protestors blocked off the tunnels that ease Brussels’ notorious congestion.

Metro stations were closed as a precaution as the protest teetered on the brink of street-fighting, despite the demonstrators’ repeated insistence their march was peaceful.