Saturday,
20 September 2025 - 14:45
Anti-immigration
protesters attack officers, set police car ablaze in The Hague
Updated
at 16:30 to include information about the protesters vandalizing the D66 office
and Jetten's response
An
anti-immigration protest in The Hague turned violent Saturday after
demonstrators left the Malieveld and stormed the A12 highway, clashing with
police, authorities said. Officers used water cannons and tear gas to disperse
the crowd.
Police
reported that about 1,500 people had gathered on the highway. Officers were
attacked with stones, bottles, and sticks, and a police vehicle was set on
fire. Several windows at the D66 party office on Lange Houtstraat were smashed,
and a trash bin was set ablaze in front of the building. No one was inside the
office at the time, party officials said.
“There is
violence being used against officers. Stones and bottles are being thrown. That
is why action is now being taken,” a police spokesperson said.
Groups of
demonstrators moved through the city shouting anti-immigration slogans and
nationalist statements.
The
demonstration on the Malieveld was originally authorized to raise awareness for
stricter asylum and immigration policies. Organizers from the stage urged
participants to remain at the site and protest peacefully. The rally was
organized by Els Rechts, who campaigns for tougher asylum and immigration
measures. She had called on attendees to keep the protest nonviolent.
D66
leader Rob Jetten condemned the attack on his party’s office, saying the
rioters were “scum” and that extremists would never intimidate the party or
take away the country.
On the
Malieveld, demonstrators set off fireworks and waved both Dutch flags and
prinsenvlaggen—orange, white, and blue banners historically used by supporters
of William of Orange during the Eighty Years’ War. The flag later became
associated with the Dutch National Socialist Movement (NSB) and is now often
displayed by far-right groups.
Reporting
by ANP and NL Times
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário