In Bergen, North Holland, in the night from Friday to Saturday, several police officers were attacked by dozens of youngsters after they had arrested a seventeen-year-old boy. He had arrested an officer and threatened him with death, confirms a spokesperson for the Noord-Holland police unit in conversation with NU.nl.
He also appeared to be filming the incident. When officers overpowered and arrested him, the rest of the group, some 20 to 30 youths, turned on the officers. They had to use violence to keep the young people at bay.
Officers who had rushed to the scene eventually calmed the situation with three police dogs. However, the youngsters continued to return in smaller groups, wiping out the multi-unit environment.
Initially, the officers did not even want to intervene when they had spotted the young people on the Plein in the center of the village, the spokesman said. That intention changed after the youngsters showed provocative behavior and scolded officers, the police write.
Second arrest on Saturday morning
The 17-year-old arrestee is said to have incited the behavior. He is suspected of insult and threat. On Saturday morning, the police arrested an eighteen-year-old boy from Bergen, who is suspected of the same crimes.
The police do not rule out further arrests and ask witnesses to report. Some bystanders would have filmed the incident. Officers are looking for the footage.
A spokesperson for the police force admits in conversation with NU.nl that several groups have turned against the police in recent months. However, it is not clear if it happens more often than usual. The force speaks of “violent incidents” and calls the aggression and violence against aid workers “unacceptable”.
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