Dutch police raid rule-breaking rave

Dutch police on Saturday broke up a rave party in breach of Covid rules that was attended by hundreds in a disused factory, local media reported.

Dozens of officers entered the venue in the town of Rijswijk with hundreds more mobilised to shepherd people away, NOS television said. Several partygoers were arrested but there was no violence. The illegal rave attracted people from far and wide with locals saying they had seen vehicles come in from France and Germany but also as far away as Spain and Italy.

With cases spiking amid the rise of the Omicron strain the Netherlands imposed a new raft of restrictions a week before Christmas with all non-essential bars and shops closed until Jan 14.