Three city buses were destroyed on Friday evening at a Vindicat festival at the Zilvermeer near Kardinge. Photo: Beijumnieuws
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With the help of the Mobile Unit, the police intervened on Friday evening at a Vindicat festival at the Zilvermeer near Kardinge in Groningen. The party degenerated into riots and the destruction of three city buses.
All day long the booming bass could be heard deep into Beijum. A few complained about this via Twitter to the municipality, which says in a response that the event calendar indeed shows that there is an event at the Kardingerplas.
After 10 p.m., the police spring into action because partygoers who want to return home by city bus vandalize three city buses, smash windows with emergency hammers and throw stink bombs.
Multiple disturbances
Spokesperson Thijs Damstra: ,,At 11.15 pm we received a report that there was a fight, many officers then turned out. On the spot, it turned out not to be a fight, but a city bus had been vandalized. That is why the driver did not want to take the students anymore and a grim atmosphere arose. Several riots broke out, reason for us to enlist the help of the Mobile Unit, which was already on standby because of football. Colleagues then tried to keep the situation controllable, but they were partially successful.”
Finally, around 00.30 hours, calm returned to Kardinge. Then large groups from Kardinge are on foot to the inner city. ,,That also resulted in dangerous situations that necessitated intervention from us. For example, the students walked on the ring road and bus lane. As if we weren’t busy enough with football and the enormous bustle in the city center that has been giving us a lot of work for days.”
‘Unsafe and intimidating experience’
A spokesperson for Qbuzz reports that the partygoers caused nuisance on the buses of lines 3 and 4. “They left beer bottles, cans and cigarettes, pulled emergency hammers and opened the air valves of the doors. It was a very unsafe and intimidating experience for drivers, other staff and travelers.”
The bus company had used extra buses for the partygoers, but that was not nearly enough. “There were many more visitors to the party than the organization had indicated.”
Vindicat could not yet be reached for comment.
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