On January 1, 2024, a drone captured multiple cars being set on fire at the Veen intersection in Brabant, the Netherlands, on New Year’s Eve. (Bart Meesters/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
[The Epoch Times, January 1, 2024](Comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Li Yan) The Dutch police said on Monday (January 1) that riots occurred in many cities across the country on New Year’s Eve, and more than 200 people have been arrested. Dozens of police officers were injured. Law enforcement officials called the violence “unacceptable.”
On the evening of December 31, police officers in several cities were attacked with fireworks and stones. A spokesperson told broadcaster NOS that New Year’s Eve was “unacceptably” filled with serious incidents and violence.
Rotterdam police said more than 100 cars and other vehicles were set on fire, while riot squads were deployed in Amsterdam, The Hague and other cities to disperse violent crowds.
Across the country, fire brigades were also hit by fireworks while trying to put out fires, forcing riot squads to be called in to assist.
The Netherlands Times reported that Tijs van Lieshout, captain of the Dutch National Fire Brigade, said, “On New Year’s Eve this year, the fire brigade once again made great efforts.” He said that sometimes firefighters “deployed in the face of difficult situations. Work”.
He also lamented the spate of violence against first responders during the New Year period. “Our colleagues are deployed to be as safe as possible. You can’t imagine doing that while having to deal with heavy fireworks being thrown at them like bombs,” Van Liechot said. “I find it incomprehensible. “
Fireworks hit first responders in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft and several smaller cities, towns and villages.
A 19-year-old man in Haarlem died from injuries sustained in a fireworks incident amid chaos shortly before midnight on Sunday, police said.
The New Year period officially begins after midnight on December 31 and ends at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day. The annual fireworks display in the Netherlands lasts for eight hours and ends at 2 a.m. on January 1.
The Dutch National Fire Service said on Monday that firefighters across the Netherlands responded to 3,680 incidents of various types in the 36 hours during the New Year period, a number that was about 11.5% lower than the same period last year. According to provisional data provided by 25 regional emergency service offices in the Netherlands, there will be 3,936 similar cases in 2022 when the Dutch New Year arrives.
As 2024 approaches, Dutch firefighters have dispatched 106 residential firefighting missions, a decrease of nearly 25% from last year. Meanwhile, vehicle fire accidents increased by about 20% to 225, according to preliminary data from the Dutch Institute of Public Safety (NIPV). The number of bin fires also dropped 5% to 785. Another 45 fires occurred in other buildings and 1,854 fires occurred in various outdoor spaces. An additional 322 incidents were unclassified. All three figures were lower than a year ago.
Editor in charge: Lin Yan#
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2024-01-01 17:47:53
