Rowdy youth torch Covid-19 testing site in Netherlands as nighttime curfew triggers unrest (VIDEOS)
The Netherlands has endured its first night of curfew imposed in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The restriction was broken at multiple locations with things getting particularly hot in one town.
A group of rowdy protesters gathered in the port area of Urk, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of the capital, Amsterdam overnight, shortly after the curfew went into effect at 9pm. The group was driving cars, honking horns, and waving national flags at the square, footage from the scene shows.
Update: A lot of people in the Netherlands do NOT obey the curfew. Images from #Urk where "tokkies" (sources say) are making a lot of noise. pic.twitter.com/X37Fw8xeEX
— NewsBlog (@newsblogmedia) January 23, 2021
The protesters became rowdy and set a drive-in coronavirus site located at the square on fire. The group then apparently waited for police to arrive to taunt the officers and pelt them with various projectiles.
Ik zie hier op Twitter toch vrij weinig over het pittoreske Urk pic.twitter.com/Udviy1sDmi
— Hidde (@VP_Hidde) January 24, 2021
Minor scuffles between the curfew-defiant individuals and police were also observed in other parts of the town. Some protesters launched fireworks at the officers, who arrived in full riot gear and a sizeable unit of police dogs.
Riots in the Netherlands because of curfew. People in #Urk attacking the police with firework. pic.twitter.com/lQbmTYixQr
— NewsBlog (@newsblogmedia) January 23, 2021
The nighttime unrest was condemned by local authorities. Mayor Cees van den Bos called the events “dramatic” and shameful.
“This is not only unacceptable, but also a slap in the face, especially for the local health authority staff who do all they can at the test center to help people from Urk,” the local authorities said, promising to strictly enforce the curfew in the future.
Goedemorgen allemaal.Geniet van de zondag en van elkaar.Naast #Urk was het gisteren ook in #Stein onrustig.Hieronder een korte samenvatting#avondklok#AvondklokProtestpic.twitter.com/dQFtT8omfl
— Jef (@rallyjef) January 24, 2021
A similar incident also unfolded in the town of Stein close to the border with Belgium. A group of around 100 young people gathered in the streets, playing music and drinking. When a sizeable police force was deployed to disperse them, scuffles ensued, resulting in at least 14 arrests.
Also on rt.com Czech restaurants & pubs open in defiance of Covid-19 rules, owners to launch ‘political movement’ to circumvent restrictionsProtests against the nighttime curfew continued in the Netherlands on Sunday, with the southern city of Eindhoven becoming the hotspot. At least 30 people were arrested near the train station where the demonstrators pelted foreign objects at the police, overturned cars and set barricades, built from bicycles snatched from nearby parking lots, on fire.
What happened to the world? Eindhoven today 🤯 #demonstration#eindhoven#protest#koffie#netherlands#netherlandsprotest#crazypic.twitter.com/BM8gpdsI9V
— Elkaz (@elkaz702) January 24, 2021
En er worden nog meer vernielingen aangericht in #eindhovenpic.twitter.com/udVcNpaqPK
— Marcin van de Ven (@brabostudent) January 24, 2021
Police responded to the unrest with tear gas and water cannons. One of the clips from the scene showed a female protester being smashed against a concrete structure by a powerful sprout of water.
Free baths in #Eindhoven. First come, first servedpic.twitter.com/xC2cJ9N1su
— Old Holborn® (@Holbornlolz) January 24, 2021
Other footage circulating on social media has captured what is claimed to be a police van highjacked by the Eindhoven protesters, with the officers chasing after it on their feet.
Someone just stole a police bus during the demonstrations in The Netherlands. #demonstranten#demonstratie#politie#Eindhoven#Amsterdam#coronamaatregelenpic.twitter.com/0b2a67Q2Qo
— Derin (@Deeeerin) January 24, 2021
Unlike many countries worldwide, the Netherlands took a laissez-faire approach in battling the coronavirus pandemic throughout most of 2020. The situation changed in December, as cases mounted and the government turned to harsher measures, and ultimately to the first curfew since WWII.
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