The young people who caused disturbances in the Utrecht districts of Overvecht and Kanaleneiland last weekend, must be tackled hard, according to deputy mayor Peter den Oudsten.
Den Oudsten interrupted his holiday because of the unrest, he returned yesterday. “If there are riots in the city where you are mayor, your holiday is badly ruined,” he says. RTV Utrecht.
Friday evening and night caused some 250 young people riots in the Kanaleneiland district. Fireworks were thrown, a shop front was destroyed and bus shelters were demolished. A car was also set on fire. Eighteen people were arrested.
On Saturday evening, young people in the Overvecht district threw stones, fireworks and bicycle dynamos at the police. An officer was slightly injured. Deputy Mayor Lot van Hooijdonk issued an emergency order and the riot police were deployed. About 25 people were arrested. Thirteen rioters received an area ban.
Last night quiet
Things didn’t get out of hand again last night. “Fortunately, because that could easily have happened”, says Den Oudsten. The mayor thinks the violence and destruction “absolutely impossible”.
According to him, the police acted well. “People have worked hard to take control of the situation. It is very complicated to do something like this well.
Calls to come to Utrecht to riot had already appeared on social media on Thursday, but according to Den Oudsten, the disturbances had been difficult to prevent. “It is often very difficult to estimate how serious that information is. If the police had to go into everything that contains a trace of threat, everyone would be behind everything.”
Solution
Some of the youths responsible for the riots in Overvecht and Kanaleneiland are known to the authorities. According to the deputy mayor, a number come from the neighborhoods themselves, where many people with a non-Western migration background live.
According to Den Oudsten, the solution to the problems in their environment must be sought. “If you offer people opportunities in life, there is less chance of derailment. If people receive an education and a good education, there is more chance that people will go in the right direction.”
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