Belgian threat agency warns of climate activist radicalisation
Belgium’s threat analysis agency OCAD has warned of a troubling evolution in the tactics of certain climate action groups, describing a shift from civil disobedience to more radical and potentially dangerous behaviour. Het Laatste Nieuws reported this news on Friday after reading OCAD's confidential government report, which Belga was also able to view.
“The methods of action of certain groups have become harsher, some can hardly be labelled "activist", but deserve the label "extremist"” the agency wrote in its latest assessment.
According to OCAD, recent years have seen a progression from awareness-raising actions to more aggressive and, in some cases, destructive interventions. While current tactics have so far targeted infrastructure rather than individuals, several incidents have involved behaviour that "could have endangered people", the agency notes.
Explosion risk during Ghent port action
Central to OCAD’s analysis is the large-scale action carried out on 1 March in the port of Ghent by Code Rood, a coalition of climate groups. The protest targeted facilities operated by Cargill, a multinational food and agriculture company. Among the several hundred participants was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The action caused significant damage and, according to OCAD, created “an acute explosion hazard.” Protesters reportedly pressed emergency stop buttons and cut data cables, leading to a dangerous build-up of gases in certain installations. “By pressing emergency stops and cutting data cables, a build-up of gases occurred in certain installations that posed an acute explosion hazard,” the report states.
Protest action at Cargill in Gent, organised by the civil disobedience action platform Code Rood on 1 March, 2025.
© BELGA VIDEO VICTOR VAN KERKCHOVE
OCAD acknowledges that activists “almost certainly did not intend to endanger people,” but adds: “the fact remains that this is a worrying development.”
Nearby steel producer ArcelorMittal was also affected. Protesters climbed onto the blast furnace gas pipeline and severed cables connected to its safety systems. As a result, the gas pipeline had to be shut down, resulting in another incident with potentially fatal consequences, according to the report.
Radicalisation within Code Rood
Code Rood identifies itself as a climate action network that engages in civil disobedience. It has previously blocked roads in the port of Antwerp and in Wilrijk, as well as access to TotalEnergies facilities in Feluy (Hainaut) and Wandre (Liège). Other actions have targeted Deurne airport and the Alibaba depot in Liège.
OCAD observes an “evolution towards more radical methods” within the group, warning that more moderate voices are losing influence. “Within the umbrella, the specific weight of actors who fall under the heading of 'extremism' seems to have increased,” the agency notes.
The report highlights increasing influence from the radical left, citing groups such as Gauche Anticapitaliste and Les Soulèvements de la Terre. At the Ghent protest, anti-capitalist and anarchist slogans were prominently displayed alongside climate-related messaging.
New focus on Gaza and Israeli-linked companies
Climate activists are also increasingly shifting their focus toward companies with ties to Israel, particularly in the context of the war in Gaza. Less than two weeks ago, major damage was inflicted during actions at the Syensqo site in Haren and the OIP facility in Tournai. The sabotage was carried out under the banner "Stop Arming Israel".
According to OIP’s CEO, the destruction caused nearly one million euros in damages. Although the action was not officially carried out under the name of Code Rood, the OCAD report, which was finalised just before the incidents, states that members of the group were actively involved in preparations, including providing action training in advance.
Majority party N-VA reacted with concern to the report, requesting a hearing in parliament and advocating for legislative action. "It is important that we take this report seriously", says MEP Jeroen Bergers. "The growing violence from the extreme left, and especially the social acceptance of this, is a cause for concern. (..) In any case, we must never accept violence. That is a bridge too far, and action must be taken against it."
#FlandersNewsService | Protest action at Cargill in Gent, organised by the civil disobedience action platform Code Rood on 1 March, 2025. © BELGA PHOTO VICTOR VAN KERKCHOVE
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