Dutch police open fire as Covid protest turns violent
Europeans are up in arms as governments mull bringing back restrictions in a bid to curb rising cases
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS: Police opened fire on protesters and seven people were injured in rioting that erupted in downtown Rotterdam around a demonstration against Covid-19 restrictions. The Dutch city’s mayor called it “an orgy of violence”.
Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told reporters in the early hours of Saturday morning that “on a number of occasions the police felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves” as rioters ran rampage through the port city’s central shopping district, setting fires and throwing rocks and fireworks at officers. “They shot at protesters, people were injured,” Aboutaleb said. He did not have details on the injuries. Police also fired warning shots.
A number of police officers also were injured in the violence and officers arrested dozens of people and expect to arrest more after studying video footage from security cameras, Aboutaleb said.
Photos from the scene showed at least one police car in flames and another with a bicycle slammed through its windshield. Riot police and a water cannon restored calm after midnight.
It was one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the Netherlands since coronavirus restrictions were first imposed last year. In January, rioters also attacked police and set fires on the streets of Rotterdam after a curfew came into force.
Thousands of protesters were expected to gather in Vienna on Saturday after the Austrian government announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the quickly rising coronavirus infections in the country.
The far-right opposition Freedom Party is among those who have called for the protest and vowed to combat the new restrictions.
Demonstrations against virus measures are also expected in other European countries including Switzerland, Croatia and Italy.
Several thousand people also took to Australia’s streets on Saturday protesting Covid-19 vaccination mandates, while smaller crowds gathered to support the measures that have elevated the country to be one of the most inoculated in the world.