The police look back on a “tumultuous” New Year’s Eve “with serious incidents”. The police had their hands full with incidents all over the country. Officers were confronted with arson, vandalism, violence and fireworks accidents. At least two hundred people were arrested.
“What should have been a festive evening has once again degenerated into a night full of destruction and violence in a number of places,” said police chief Janny Knol in a press release on Wednesday .
The police arrested at least two hundred people during New Year’s Eve. Among other things for vandalism, violence, public drunkenness and insults. “For police officers and other emergency services, the new year has started anything but well,” says Knol.
The mobile unit (ME) had to take action in Haarlem, Zaandam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam, Breda and Groningen, among other places. In Culemborg, the ME – after several advances – used tear gas to keep rioters at bay and to prevent them from throwing fireworks at officers. Emergency workers were also attacked there.
At Amsterdam Central Station, two officers got into trouble around two o’clock in the morning. Other officers responded to their distress signal. Warning shots were fired and four people were arrested. In IJsselstein, the police station was pelted with heavy fireworks. An officer from the Central Netherlands police was punched in the face. And in The Hague, there were fourteen reports of violence against emergency workers.
“Police officers and other emergency workers who are committed to a safe New Year’s Eve celebration were the target of rioters,” emphasizes police chief Knol. “It is unacceptable that New Year’s Eve in our country is accompanied by so many, sometimes very violent, incidents.” The Dutch Fire Service also calls it unacceptable that emergency workers are attacked during their work and sees “a new tradition of heavy fireworks and violence”.
Vandalism and arson
According to the police, heavy, illegal fireworks were used to destroy things in various places in the Netherlands. For example, a ‘firework bomb’ damaged the emergency exit doors of a fire station near Heemskerk. Cars were also set on fire in several cities.
The police also reported injuries due to fireworks in ‘s-Gravendeel, Cuijk, Reusel, Groningen, Tiel and Nijverdal, among others. In Rotterdam, a fourteen-year-old boy was killed by heavy fireworks . In Reusel, four people were seriously injured after a fireworks pit fell over.
In addition to problems with fireworks, the police were also confronted with violent incidents. For example, a threat with a firearm led to a chase in Hellevoetsluis. This ended after the police had fired shots at the car. Two suspects were injured in the process. They had to go to the hospital. The incident is being investigated by the National Criminal Investigation Department.
The police also had to deal with a malfunction of the national communication system C2000
