A police car was set on fire in Veen on New Year’s night. This happened near the infamous intersection of Witboomstraat and Van der Loostraat, where cars have been set on fire during New Year’s Eve for decades. A total of eight cars went up in flames during this New Year’s Eve.
The police had their hands full restoring order in the village in the municipality of Altena, and the Mobile Unit (ME) had to be involved.
During the New Year, five car wrecks had already been set on fire by stokers. This is an annual tradition in Veen, although many local residents and the authorities are anything but happy about it. About three hundred people were present at the ‘fire’.
When the police arrived to investigate, things got out of hand. While the officers stood about ten meters from their car, the rear window was smashed. According to a 112 correspondent, two young men poured a flammable liquid into the police car and then lit it.
Mobile unit
What followed was a large police presence. The mobile unit (ME) was called. A water cannon was used to chase away all spectators and stokers from the intersection. In the meantime, two more wrecked cars had been set on fire.
The riot police then cordoned off the intersection of Witboomstraat and Van der Loostraat, so that the fire brigade could safely extinguish all the car wrecks. The corps from Giessen, Wijk and Aalburg and Waalwijk had to come to Veen to extinguish everything.
Havoc
The intersection, where cars have been set on fire for decades, will again look like a battlefield full of burnt-out wrecks, surrounded by a thick layer of fire-fighting foam.
It is very likely that the road surface at the intersection will have to be replaced again after the disturbances. That is a significant cost item that has been a thorn in the side of the municipality of Altena for years.
It is unclear whether any arrests have been made. The police could not be reached for comment on Tuesday night.
