Rotterdam: Dutch police fired a warning shot, injured several people, after rioting the partial locking Covid burned a police car and threw a stone in Rotterdam on Friday.
Chaos broke out after protests in the port city of Coronavirus restrictions and government plans to limit access to people who were not vaccinated into several places.
Dozens of people arrested and seven people were totally injured, including police officers, during the night at one of Rotterdam’s main shopping street.
The Netherlands returned to the first partial locking of Western Europe in the winter last Saturday with at least three weeks on the roadside, shops and sports.
Major Rotterdam Ahmed about Hallanb described the riots as “Violent Orgy”.
“The police felt the need to draw police guns in the end to defend themselves,” he told reporters.
The police said in a statement that the demonstration that began on Jalan Coolsingel “has resulted in riots.
Fires have been set in several places.
Fireworks departed and police fired several warning shots.” “There were injuries related to fired shots,” he added.
They did not give numbers but Nos public broadcaster said two people were injured.
Dutch media said several hundred protesters shouted slogans including “freedom”, then threw stones at the police and firefighters and burned several electric scooters.
This situation was mostly calm then but the rubble of the burning police car and dozens of bikes were destroyed by the scene, said an AFP reporter.
The police riots carrying shields and sticks directed a group of people away from the area.
Officers riding horses and in the police van patrolling the streets.
The police also closed several scenes to comb the evidence, with human fingers seen on the ground on one of them, AFP correspondent said.
“Most demonstrators are now gone.
There are only a few groups in several places,” said Police spokesman Jesse Brobbel to AFP.
The Dutch police said units from all over the country were brought to “restore order” to Rotterdam.
“Dozens of arrests have now been made, it is expected that more arrests will follow.
About seven people have been injured, including on the side of the police,” said a police statement.
Rotterdam’s authority issued an emergency order that prohibits people from gathering in the area “to maintain public order”, while the main train station is closed.
“This is a very serious situation that requires the highest priority action,” said an emergency command by Rotterdam Municipality.
Tensions will now be in front of the planned demonstration in Amsterdam and the southern city of Breda on Saturday.
Local media say thousands of people are expected to attend.
Like many of the entire Europe, the Netherlands has seen Covid cases soar to record levels in recent days, with more than 21,000 new infections reported on Friday.
The latest restrictions were announced on November 12, and triggered clashes between demonstrators and police outside the Ministry of Justice in the Hague.
In January, the Netherlands suffered the worst riots in four decades, including in Rotterdam, after the unified Covid curfew came into force.
But the most controversial size can come.
The Dutch government is considering not including those who are not vaccinated from bars and restaurants – called 2G options – limiting acceptance to people who have been vaccinated or those who have recovered from this disease.
But there was a significant opposition to the plan during the debate in parliament this week.
Similar steps have been taken in a German neighboring country, while Austria initially did it but now has entered full lock.
Previously on Friday the Dutch government prohibited traditional fireworks for the new year during the second year in a row “to prevent extra burden on care workers,” the government said.