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Rotterdam Police Open Fire As Covid Protest Turns Into ‘Orgy Of Violence’

Rotterdam Police Open Fire As Covid Protest Turns Into ‘Orgy Of Violence’

Seven people were injured and dozens were arrested in what the city's mayor described as an ‘orgy of violence’

Anonymous

Anonymous

Dutch police opened fire on protesters after demonstrations against Covid-19 restrictions in Rotterdam turned violent.

The Guardian reports that seven people were injured and dozens were arrested in what the city's mayor described as an 'orgy of violence'.

As Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations surged in the Netherlands, the government introduced a three-week partial lockdown last Saturday (13 November) before announcing plans for a Covid vaccine pass.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Rotterdam to express their anger at the restrictions, but riots soon erupted.

Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock

The city's mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told reporters this morning (20 November) that 'on a number of occasions the police felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves' as rioters started fires and threw stones and fireworks at officers.

Describing the events as an 'orgy of violence', he added: "They shot at protesters. People were injured."

A police spokesperson told Reuters that officers fired warning and direct shots as 'the situation was life-threatening', leading to seven people being injured.

More than 20 were arrested as a result of the incident, and Aboutaleb said more are expected to be taken in due to video footage from CCTV cameras.

As a result of the violence that unfolded, the city was placed in a state of emergency, shutting down public transportation and ordering people to go home.

Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock

Videos shared on social media show police cars on fire and people throwing rocks at officers in Rotterdam's shopping district, as well as riot police using a water cannon in an attempt to remove rioters.

Dutch justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus spoke out about the events in a statement, saying: "The riots and extreme violence against police officers, riot police and firefighters last night in Rotterdam are disgusting to see.

"Protesting is a great right in our society, but what we saw last night is simply criminal behaviour. It has nothing to do with demonstrating."

The local political party Leefbaar Rotterdam also condemned the violence, writing on Twitter: "The centre of our beautiful city has this evening transformed into a war zone.

Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock

"Rotterdam is a city where you can disagree with things that happen but violence is never, never the solution."

A similar rampage unfolded in the Netherlands when Covid-19 restrictions were introduced in January last year, with rioters ambushing authorities and starting fires in Rotterdam when a curfew was imposed.

More recently, the country's government said it was considering a law that would restrict access for unvaccinated people to some venues.

On Friday (19 November), a fireworks ban on New Year's was also announced for the second year in a row, which the government said was to prevent 'extra strain on healthcare'.

Words: Daisy Phillipson

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

Topics: Police, Coronavirus, Covid-19, Protest