In the Dutch municipality of Wijk bij Duurstede, in the province of Utrecht, riots and destruction broke out on Friday evening during protests against the arrival of a temporary emergency asylum shelter.
Source: Belga
“Almost all the windows” of the town hall were thrown out and there was damage from fireworks, the police said on Saturday. Seven people have been arrested: two for violating the emergency order, one who did not want to give his identity and four for open violence. The police have not ruled out more arrests.
When the rioters attacked the town hall, the police carried out several charges. So paving stones and fireworks were thrown, cameras were also destroyed and traffic signs were pulled out of the ground.
“Even if you think that the bottom has been reached, the riot evening of Friday, June 5, appears not to have been the bottom limit,” says Mayor Petra Doornenbal. Vandalism was also caused to the town hall. On Friday, according to Doornenbal, there was “terrible” misconduct. “This has touched the heart of our democracy. And while the council chamber last Tuesday was the place where the council unanimously spoke out about the conditions for temporary emergency shelter for refugees in Wijk bij Duurstede.”
Demonstrations have been taking place at the town hall for several evenings against the arrival of temporary emergency shelter. A police spokesperson told NOS that the protest was peaceful on Friday until “groups of rioters” appeared just before 10 p.m. The police deployed dogs, horses and the mobile unit, and peace was restored later in the evening.
It is still being investigated whether rioters actually entered the town hall, a municipal spokesperson said. The municipality previously reported that this was the case.