Rotterdam mayor throws violent protests at COVID-19, Reuters arrests more than 20

HAGA (Reuters) – The mayor of Rotterdam on Saturday condemned the “orgy of violence” in protests against COVID-19 measures in the Dutch port city, which injured seven people and arrested more than 20.

Hundreds of rebel crowds burned cars https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-police-fire-warning-shots-during-riots-over-covid-19-measures-2021-11-19, set fire he removed the fireworks and threw stones at police in protest on Friday afternoon. Police responded with warning shots and water cannons.

“Police were forced to pull out their weapons and even fire direct shots,” Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb said at a news conference Saturday morning.

It was “an orgy of violence,” he said. “I can’t think of another way to describe it.”

Authorities say more than 20 people have been arrested and others are expected to be arrested, as the city center where the incidents took place is heavily monitored by security cameras.

Dutch Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus said in a statement that the “extreme violence” against Rotterdam police and firefighters is “despicable”.

“The right to protest is very important in our society, but what we saw last night was just criminal behavior,” Grapperhaus said.

Demonstrators gathered to express opposition to the government’s plans to restrict access to indoor halls to people with a “crown pass,” showing that they have been vaccinated or cured of an infection.

Those who have not received the vaccine, but who have a negative test certificate can also get the card.

Organizers of a protest against coronavirus measures in Amsterdam on Saturday said the event had been canceled after Friday’s violence.

A music protest called by DJs in the southern city of Breda will be brought forward against the current measures of COVID-19, which is the closure of bars, restaurants and clubs at 20:00. Organizers say they expect several thousand people.

The Netherlands re-imposed some blockade measures last weekend to try to revive coronavirus contamination for the first three weeks, but daily infections have remained at their highest level since the pandemic began.