Two of the three suspects arrested after the car fires that got out of hand in Veen during New Year’s Eve are boys aged fifteen and sixteen. The oldest suspect is 24. They are accused of public violence and possession of weapons. The three are free again, but remain suspects. The police have not ruled out more arrests.
The police only want to say that the youngest suspects live in the municipality of Altena. The police are reluctant to provide information about minors.
The third suspect is a 24-year-old man from Wijk en Aalburg. All three are said to have used violence when (scrap) cars were set on fire as usual during New Year’s Eve in Veen. In addition, a brass knuckle was confiscated from the sixteen-year-old boy and the 24-year-old suspect had to hand over a knife.
Police car set on fire
The traditional ‘peat fires’ initially proceeded peacefully. Around 3 a.m. the rear window of a police car was smashed. This happened while officers were standing about ten meters from their car. According to a 112 correspondent, two young men then poured a flammable liquid into the police car and lit it. Then things got completely out of hand and the Mobile Unit also had to take action.
READ ALSO: Three arrests after ‘traditional’ night full of problems in Veen: ‘Shame’
It is not (yet) clear whether the three arrested ringleaders were also involved. The police are still investigating and will in any case file a report. There are cameras around the intersection in Veen, where it is restless almost every New Year’s Eve. Where possible, detectives will use this.
The police cannot comment on whether the two men who were convicted in January last year complied with an area ban. They were banned due to their involvement in previous riots in Veen. These were men aged 22 and 24 from Wijk and Aalburg.
READ ALSO: Car tires on fire in Veen: jail, community service and years of ban
The municipality of Altena wants to spend as few words as possible on the umpteenth problems surrounding old and new. A spokesperson said that there was no ban on gatherings during New Year’s Eve. That was only true a few years ago. The municipality leaves it at a statement that Mayor Theo Weterings gave on Wednesday. As chairman of the Central and West Brabant Safety Region, he then announced that it is ‘completely reprehensible that emergency workers who ensure that we can celebrate a party are treated this way.’ The mayor of Tilburg further stated that ‘we should not consider it normal when a police car is set on fire.’
As is almost tradition, a lot of flames and unrest in Veen: