Several people have been arrested in Amsterdam West. Image ANP
During New Year’s Eve, the police had their hands full with vandalism, riots and escorting emergency services throughout almost the entire city. Officers were attacked with (heavy) fireworks in various places in the city. Four police officers were injured.
“This concerns hearing damage from fireworks, burns and injuries from a blow to the face of an officer,” the Amsterdam triangle of mayor, chief public prosecutor and police chief told ANP. The police arrested 85 people. Of these, 24 are currently still in custody.
ME deployment
The Amsterdam triangle speaks of ‘a considerable number of incidents’. The riot police had to intervene five times in different parts of the city, because officers were pelted with stones and fireworks. “The triangle does not believe it is responsible to wait any longer with a national fireworks ban. Police officers, enforcers, firefighters and ambulance personnel must be able to do their work safely.”
At 1:30 am, the riot police were deployed to the Insulindeweg in Amsterdam East, a police spokesperson confirmed after reporting by AT5. Heavy fireworks were thrown at the police. Footage from the local broadcaster shows a large group of young people attacking the police. The police cannot say how many young people the group consisted of. She also does not want to say anything about any arrests. The riot police formed a line to drive the group away, but according to the spokesperson no force was used. Just before 2 a.m., calm was restored.
Officers were also pelted with fireworks in Nieuw-West, on Burgemeester van Leeuwenlaan. The police arrested several people. A spokesperson spoke of ‘a busy night’ in Amsterdam on Sunday night. The riot police were also deployed in the center and in Weesp, the municipality announced on Monday afternoon.
Arrests in Zaandam
A total of thirteen young people were arrested in Zaandam. They threw fireworks at the police, among other things. Around 6:30 p.m., the police went to the Poelenburg district after a report about a group of young people who bombarded passers-by and cars with fireworks, caused destruction and set fires. The officers were pelted with heavy fireworks. The riot police were also deployed here. Seven Zaandammers between the ages of 14 and 19 have been arrested.
After 11 p.m., six more Zaandam residents aged 15 and 16 were arrested for throwing fireworks, also at police officers. All thirteen suspects were released during the night from Sunday to Monday.
The police unions want to sit down at short notice to consider how violence against emergency workers can be stopped around the turn of the year. “We have to start thinking now about how to deal with this and not wait until the end of this year, for example,” says Ramon Meijerink, board member of the ACP police union.
Bonfire and fireworks shows
Although there was another ban on lighting off fireworks in Amsterdam, fireworks were still ignited on a large scale. The fireworks shows from the municipality – on the Museumplein, at the Sloterplas and in Weesp – continued despite the strong wind.
The traditional bonfire in Floradorp could also take place, although the Christmas tree pyre, at five meters, was much smaller than in previous years.
Both the fireworks shows and the Flora Fire were ‘generally festive and without major problems’, the municipality said. About 45,000 people attended the fireworks show and the central countdown moment on Museumplein. Earlier in the evening, there were also approximately 10,000 visitors at a special countdown moment for children.
A spokesperson for the fire brigade said that it was a relatively quiet New Year’s Eve. The number of fires in the city was smaller compared to last year. “We have had to deal with situations where colleagues were unable to do their work due to fireworks being set off. In one case, in Amsterdam-West, it was so bad that the firefighting had to be stopped because a Cobra was thrown at colleagues.”
2024-01-01 13:50:00
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