The number of arrests at a protest by climate activists in the Netherlands is According to the police, that has risen from a few hundred to a total of 1,579. However, on Sunday – a day after the blockade of part of the A12 near the Dutch seat of parliament and government in The Hague – only one of the detainees was still detained. He is accused of biting an officer.
According to the prosecutor’s office, a total of 48 participants are being prosecuted for criminal offenses, including insult, destruction of property and obstruction of traffic. The Public Prosecution Service decided that there would be no investigation into the other temporarily detained persons. The police initially only spoke of a few hundred arrests on Saturday afternoon.
With the blockade of the A12, the Extinction Rebellion group wanted to protest against the government’s energy policy. Several thousand people responded to a similar call. According to the ANP news agency, the police deployed a water cannon to prevent the demonstrators from closing the highway. The officials intervened earlier this time than in previous disruptive actions by Extinction Rebellion, it said. The city council of The Hague had previously warned that it was forbidden to block the highway. As a result, there was also a warning for the use of water cannons.
According to the ANP, Prime Minister Mark Rutte called it “absurd” that climate activists blocked the A12 despite an explicit ban from the mayor of The Hague. So you can’t complain about using a water cannon. That’s their own fault. (saw/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
