Dutch police deployed in pressure to curb rioting, looting

By: AP | Netherlands, The Hague |

Updated: January 27, 2021 9:17:47 am

Police took to the streets of Dutch cities and cities in pressure Tuesday evening in an try to forestall violent rioting that shook the nation for 3 successive nights after a nationwide curfew was launched to curb the unfold of the coronavirus.
By late evening, the elevated police presence appeared to have paid off, with no main rioting or clashes between youths and police reported.
“We are seeing a different picture to yesterday,” police chief Willem Woelders advised Dutch present affairs present Nieuwsuur.
“I think what has also helped is that you see an atmosphere among the population that this (rioting) is unacceptable,” Woelders advised one other speak present, Op1.
In this seize taken from video on Monday, Jan, 25, 2021, firefighters extinguish a automobile set on fireplace by rioters, in Haarlem, Netherlands. (Mizzle Media by way of AP)
Police in Rotterdam stated they arrested 33 folks for minor offenses and vandalism earlier than the nightly curfew took impact at 9 p.m. Local broadcaster Rijnmond reported that riot police had been deployed within the south and west of town, however police didn’t instantly report any main disturbances.
In Amsterdam, riot police had been dispatched to a business road the place a big group of youths had gathered and set off fireworks, however there have been no violent confrontations.
The rioting, which began with the torching of a coronavirus testing heart in a fishing village on Saturday evening, is the worst to hit the Netherlands in years. It was initially triggered by anger over a tricky coronavirus lockdown that has been in pressure since mid-December, however requires rioting swirling on social media and primarily unfold amongst younger folks more and more fueled the unrest.
Schools have been closed within the nation for the reason that Christmas holidays. Police stated Tuesday afternoon that video photographs confirmed that many rioters had been younger youngsters and that most of the folks they arrested had been picked up near their properties.
“I join others in appealing to parents to keep their children at home. Certainly after 2100, stay indoors,” stated North Holland regional Police Chief Anja Schouten.
The violence has stretched the police and led at occasions to the deployment of navy police. On Monday evening, rioters pelted police with rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails and looted retailers in no less than two cities, Rotterdam and Den Bosch.
A complete of 184 folks had been arrested in Monday evening’s unrest. Police ticketed greater than 1,700 for breaching the 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. curfew, which carries a advantageous of 95 euros ($115). Officers across the nation additionally detained dozens suspected of inciting rioting by means of social media.
Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus stated earlier Tuesday that riots would rapidly be introduced earlier than the courts and face attainable jail phrases if convicted.
“They won’t get away with it,” he advised reporters in The Hague.
“If you rob people who are struggling, with the help of the government, to keep their head above water, it’s totally scandalous,” Grapperhaus advised reporters. He pressured that the curfew is critical within the combat towards the coronavirus.
Populist right-wing opposition lawmaker Geert Wilders referred to as for the military for use to quell rioting, one thing the federal government has thus far dominated out.
Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb posted a video message on Twitter, asking rioters: “Does it feel good to wake up with a bag full of stolen stuff next to you?”
He additionally appealed to folks of the younger rioters, asking: “Did you miss your son yesterday? Did you ask yourself where he was?”
The municipality in Den Bosch designated massive elements of town as danger areas for Tuesday evening, fearing a repeat of the violence. Residents took to the streets Tuesday to assist with the cleanup, and town’s mayor stated he would examine authorities’ response to the rioting.

“This criminal violence must stop,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte tweeted.
“The riots have nothing to do with protesting or struggling for freedom,” he added. “We must win the battle against the virus together, because that’s the only way of getting back our freedom.”

The fee of latest infections in Netherlands has been reducing in latest weeks, however the nation’s public well being institute warned Tuesday that the brand new variant of the virus first detected in Britain is gaining floor and like was chargeable for a couple of third of infections during the last week. The nation has registered greater than 13,650 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.