The police have arrested a “few hundred” climate activists around the demonstrations at the A12 in The Hague. Some of those detainees have been released. The organizer of the climate actions, Extinction Rebellion, speaks of a successful demonstration.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) will decide at a later date whether the activists will be punished or not, and if so, what punishment.
The A12 in The Hague was cleared for traffic around 5:30 p.m. after the highway was blocked by Extinction Rebellion protesters for much of the afternoon.
The activists were warned in advance by the police and mayor Jan van Zanen not to enter the Utrechtsebaan, but did not respond.
The climate activists had not only gathered on the road, but also next to the Utrechtsebaan and on the Malieveld. The demonstrators protested because they disagree with the way the government deals with subsidies for fossil energy producers.
‘Our successful action shows great support’
Extinction Rebellion found the day successful and successful. “We have shown the enormous support for our demand to end subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.”
According to the organization, there were about a thousand activists on the A12 and another two thousand supporters along the road. “We are very pleased with the attention that was paid to this action,” says a spokesman for the climate action group.
The group said on Twitter that “excessive force” was used by the police in some arrests. A video allegedly shows how a police officer tries to turn off the bodycam of an activist. “We will look at these images with our legal team and then determine whether complaints will be filed.”
Unfortunately, this content cannot be displayedWe do not have permission for the necessary cookies. Accept the cookies to view this content.
Police are talking about ‘quiet and peaceful’ arrests
Police say the arrests were made “quietly and peacefully” on both the activists’ and police sides. All detainees have been transferred to the police station, where officers have begun to establish their identities. Minors and people with a medical condition could report for priority treatment.
A journalist has also been arrested, a police spokesman said. When it was established that it was indeed a reporter, he was “released as soon as possible”, according to the police.
The police used grinders and cola to get climate activists off the A12. Demonstrators had attached themselves to each other and to the road in various ways.
Both the activists and the officers wore hearing protection against the sound of the grinder. Toolboxes containing hammers were deployed and police tried to dislodge glued demonstrators using coke.
Observers from Amnesty International were present at the demonstration to monitor the progress of the demonstration. The organization will probably report its findings next week.
1:00
