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Dutch police clash with anti-immigration protesters in The Hague Dutch police clash with anti-immigration protesters in The Hague
(about 3 hours later)
Police use teargas and water cannon to disperse violent demonstrators who block highway and smash windows at centre-left D66 party’s HQ Thirty arrests made and two officers injured as teargas and water cannon deployed against violent protesters
Dutch police have used teargas and a water cannon to disperse violent anti-immigration protesters in The Hague on Saturday, a local government spokesperson has said.Dutch police have used teargas and a water cannon to disperse violent anti-immigration protesters in The Hague on Saturday, a local government spokesperson has said.
Thousands of people joined a protest organised by a rightwing activist demanding stricter immigration policies and a clampdown on asylum seekers, just over a month before a national election. Thirty people have been arrested, and two police officers were injured. Authorities did not rule out additional arrests in the coming days as they review camera footage.
Thousands of people joined a protest organised by a rightwing activist demanding stricter immigration policies and a clampdown on asylum seekers, just more than a month before a national election.
Large groups of protesters, many waving Dutch flags and flags associated with far-right groups, clashed violently with the police, throwing rocks and bottles, footage from broadcaster NOS showed.Large groups of protesters, many waving Dutch flags and flags associated with far-right groups, clashed violently with the police, throwing rocks and bottles, footage from broadcaster NOS showed.
A police car was set on fire and a group of protesters briefly blocked a highway near the site of the demonstration.A police car was set on fire and a group of protesters briefly blocked a highway near the site of the demonstration.
Local media reported that protesters also smashed several windows at the headquarters of the centre-left D66 party.Local media reported that protesters also smashed several windows at the headquarters of the centre-left D66 party.
“Scum. You keep your hands off political parties,” the D66 party’s leader, Rob Jetten, wrote on X. “If you think you can intimidate us, tough luck. We will never let extremist rioters take our beautiful country away.”“Scum. You keep your hands off political parties,” the D66 party’s leader, Rob Jetten, wrote on X. “If you think you can intimidate us, tough luck. We will never let extremist rioters take our beautiful country away.”
A smaller group of rioters headed for the Dutch parliament complex, which is fenced off as it undergoes renovation.A smaller group of rioters headed for the Dutch parliament complex, which is fenced off as it undergoes renovation.
Geert Wilders, the anti-migration populist politician who won the previous election in the Netherlands, was invited to speak at the demonstration but did not attend.Geert Wilders, the anti-migration populist politician who won the previous election in the Netherlands, was invited to speak at the demonstration but did not attend.
Instead Wilders, who has retained his lead in opinion polls ahead of the 29 October vote, condemned the violence on X, saying the use of force against police was “utterly unacceptable”, and calling those involved “idiots” and “scum”. Instead Wilders, who has retained his lead in opinion polls in the lead-in to the 29 October vote, condemned the violence on X, saying the use of force against police was “utterly unacceptable”, and calling those involved “idiots” and “scum”.