Rotterdam police opened live fire at protesters yesterday (Friday), injuring seven of them after a demonstration against corona restrictions turned into a riot that included burning cars and police vehicles, throwing stones and firing fireworks at police and destroying property.
The mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmad Abu Taleb, described the demonstrations as an "orgy of violence".
"In some cases the police had to pull out their weapons to protect themselves," Abu Taleb said, adding that police were injured during the incidents and some of the protesters were hit by live fire.
Dozens of people were also injured.
It should be noted that an independent investigation has been opened regarding the use of the shooting.
The riots in Rotterdam, Photo: EP
Dutch Justice Minister Fred Garperhaus condemned the events, saying: "The riots and extreme violence directed at police and firefighters were reprehensible. Freedom of demonstration is a protected right in our society, but what we saw yesterday was not a demonstration - but simply criminal behavior. It has nothing to do with criminal behavior. For a demonstration. "
The riots, as mentioned, erupted following the imposition of the new restrictions in the Netherlands, which include closing places of entertainment at eight o'clock in the evening and holding sports games without a crowd, following the renewed outbreak of the virus across the continent.
In Austria it has been decided to impose a general closure of three weeks, and in Germany there are fears that the number of deaths from the virus will double in the foreseeable future.