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Rotterdam: protest escalated
Photo: Killian Lindenburg / dpa
During a demonstration by hundreds of people against stricter corona measures, violent riots broke out in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. There had been arson in various places, fireworks had been fired and officials had fired several warning shots, the police in Rotterdam said on Friday evening. A large contingent tries to restore order. The riot police are also used. There was no mention of injuries.
As the broadcaster NOS reported, at least one police car was set on fire and others were damaged. Objects were thrown at firefighters and police officers. Pictures showed fires on the sidewalk, chairs were thrown and dumpsters pushed onto the street. A police car was ablaze. The train traffic to and from Rotterdam has been suspended until further notice due to the riots, said the Dutch railways. There are no replacement buses.
The rally, to which several organizations had called, was directed against plans by the government to introduce a 2G rule in view of the worsening corona situation.
Access to events, cafés and restaurants was then only given to those who had been vaccinated and those who had recovered.
After a curfew was imposed in the Netherlands in January, there had already been serious riots in several cities with millions in damages.