Young people threw fireworks at police officers in Helmond on Saturday afternoon. One of the officers suffered hearing damage. Also in Helmond, the windscreen of a police car was shattered when the car was bombarded with fireworks.
In a retrospective on old news, the East Brabant police also announce that eleven people were arrested during the turn of the year for, among other things, vandalism, threats and driving under the influence. Team chief Wilbert Paulissen speaks of a ‘manageable night’ and he condemns the violence against his colleagues.
The incidents in Helmond were at the train station and Isidoor Opsomerstraat.
Explosion with damage in Den Bosch
Fireworks nuisance also gave the police a lot of work in Den Bosch. An explosion occurred in Pisarostraat after someone set off fireworks. The windows of a house were broken and two passenger cars were damaged. The man setting off the fireworks was injured.
The police also came into action in Hapert, where a man suffered serious injuries in a carbide shooting on Saturday afternoon. He has been taken to a hospital.
Assistance was also requested after domestic fires were reported in Beek en Donk (Merellaan) and Den Bosch (Weteringpad), among others. In the latter case, according to a local resident, the fire was caused by fireworks. The police also showed up when tackling the fire in the church building in Veghel.
‘Relatively safe home’
Wilbert Paulissen: “Apart from a number of incidents, there have been no major disruptions to public order. Thanks to good preparation, we were quickly present at places where this was necessary. That contributed to the fact that my colleagues and other aid workers were able to return home relatively safely.”
The police chief emphasized that every incident is one too many: “Certainly the incidents in Helmond in which our own colleagues are thrown with fireworks are unacceptable.”
National Chief of Police Henk van Essen: “The safety of civilians and aid workers is paramount in our actions. The fact that colleagues are hindered and harassed while they try to protect others is indigestible. Unambiguous fireworks rules can contribute to a festive New Year’s Eve in the future .”
No hindrance to firefighters
The fire brigade in Southeast Brabant was not bothered by any nuisance or aggression during the turn of the year. She looks back on a relatively quiet old and new. As a rule, incidents for which the fire brigade was called were limited to brushwood, rubbish, rubbish bin, scooter and some car fires. A spokesperson adds: “We also had to deal with a few bonfires, where, if necessary, the fire brigade was able to do its job neatly and in good consultation with partygoers. In general, the atmosphere was pleasant.”
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