Hague police said they arrested several others at a demonstration opposed to Dutch coronavirus regulations after being attacked by protesters. A police officer was injured in the incident, police showed in a statement. In addition, four other suspects were questioned in connection with violence at a rally of measures against coronavirus in June also in The Hague.
It is transparent which caused clashes between protesters and police around 2 p.m. Thursday. “We acted because several protesters behaved provocatively and aggressively towards the police,” the police said.
– Bob van Keulen (@BobHGL) 20 August 2020
Eldor van Feggelen of Viruswaanzin, or “Virus Truth” in English, said: “I have no precise concept of what happened or why there were arrests.” He told RTL Nieuws that they had permission for the demonstration.
Videos from the scene showed police beating other people with batons after police were beaten and pushed, but also beating and pushing others who refused to leave the protest site. “We are still in the center of The Hague to repair peace and quiet,” police said.
The demonstration took place in Plein, a square near the parliamentary complex. Up to 200 more people attended, according to local broadcaster Omroep West. Several government buildings were closed to the public due to the protests.
– van Lith de Jeude (@LithJeude) 20 August 2020
Protesters shouted several slogans and added “Children’s Life Matters,” “Down with the emergency law” and “We are the Netherlands.”
Tactical ensembles were brought in to prevent some protesters from marching into the small space of the Dutch Parliament, while other officials worked to evacuate altogether.
– Sander Knura (@sanderknura) 20 August 2020
Early Thursday, police announced that they had arrested four men in another protest opposed to coronavirus rules. The riots broke out after a demonstration in Malieveld in The Hague on 21 June, and Prime Minister Mark Rutte attributed the riots to the “hooligans coke-ups”.
Approximately 425 other people were arrested as a result of the aftermath, and another 29 were arrested after an investigation into the riots. The four new detainees all volunteered at the police station, were questioned and released.
It included a 31-year-old boy from The Hague and a 53-year-old boy from Den Hoorn, Groningen, who were questioned on Wednesday. A boy from Naaldwijk, 40, also interrogated on 15 August, and a 20-year-old boy from Rotterdam on 6 August.
The police will hand over their files to the Crown, who will be criminally prosecuted. None of the suspects remained in custody Thursday.
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