I.In Rotterdam, protests against the Dutch government’s corona policy broke out on Friday evening. Seven people were injured and at least 20 were arrested. The police fired warning shots, but also targeted rioters. Several of their vehicles were destroyed. The Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, spoke of an “orgy of violence”. The Dutch Minister for Justice and Security, Ferd Grapperhaus, called the unrest on Saturday morning “despicable”. It was about “criminal behavior”: “It has nothing to do with demonstrating.”
On Friday evening hundreds of people gathered in the center of Rotterdam’s city center to protest against the 2-G rules that the government wants to introduce. Access to bars, restaurants and events is then only permitted to those who have been vaccinated and recovered; a negative test is not sufficient. The mayor said at a nightly press conference that the demonstration had not previously been registered with the city. When the situation got out of control around 8 p.m., eight trains were called by mobile emergency services, a total of a good 400 police officers. A state of emergency has been imposed on part of the Rotterdam center.
Fireworks thrown at police officers
Videos shared on social media show young men throwing fireworks at police officers and using iron bars to destroy a police car. A total of four police cars, other cars and scooters went up in flames; the fire brigade was also hampered when trying to put out fires. A journalist was also attacked. The police spoke of several hundred rioters; soccer hooligans could also have been involved. Mayor Aboutaleb said on Saturday morning that not all rioters were from Rotterdam.
At the beginning of the rioting, the police fired warning shots. According to a spokesman, the officers were forced to target attackers; they were injured in the process. At first nothing was known about the exact circumstances and the severity of the injuries. “We will investigate what exactly happened,” said Rotterdam prosecutor Hugo Hillenaar, who added that he expected further arrests. There will be a major investigation into the riots and the police operation. Minister Grapperhaus said on Saturday morning that the Rijksrecherche would investigate the shots. This is a special unit of the public prosecutor who investigates allegations against public officials. Police officers were also injured.
Minister Grapperhaus, who is responsible for the security forces, expressed his appreciation for the emergency services. “I have deep respect for all police officers and emergency services, but also for all firefighters and other rescue workers who worked very hard yesterday to bring peace back to the city,” he said. There will be more arrests in the coming days and weeks “The perpetrators would be brought to justice quickly. Many rioters were not masked and there are many security cameras in the center of the city. By half past one in the morning, the police were back under control in the center, but remained on high alert.
Demonstration in Amsterdam canceled
The head of the national police, Henk van Essen, expressed concern about the aggression against police officers. Society is “hardening” and becoming more and more intolerant, “in relation to one another and to the government,” he told De Telegraaf newspaper. It’s getting easier to make threats, both physically and online. “Not only are police officers confronted with this, but also politicians, scientists and journalists.”
A demonstration planned for Saturday in Dam Square in Amsterdam has been canceled. The organizer “United We Stand” justified this with respect for the people who were injured in Rotterdam. In contrast, a demonstration in Breda is to begin at 1 p.m. “We are shocked by what happened in Rotterdam. That’s why we’re distancing ourselves from it, ”says Joost Eras, who organizes the event together with three other DJs who work in the Breda hotel industry. “But our demonstration continues.” Several thousand participants are expected. In Breda last Saturday, when new restrictions on public life came into force, two dozen restaurants refused to close at 8 p.m.
The government had recently restricted public life for an initial three weeks due to the sharp rise in the number of infections and the threat of overloading the health system. In addition to the catering trade, shops for daily needs also have to close at 8 p.m., all others at 6 p.m. Cinemas and theaters are excluded; the 3-G rule applies here first; however, the cabinet has agreed on the introduction of 2G. Sports events take place without an audience. In addition, citizens should invite a maximum of four other people into a private household, but this is only a recommendation.
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