Police turn out en masse because of disturbances at Turkish elections in the Rai

Tonight, the police went out with dozens of police cars to the Rai in Amsterdam, where the polling station for the Turkish elections was just closing at around 9 p.m. Inside, a big riot arose afterwards, in which dozens of police officers had to act with dogs and sticks. Several ambulances were called and a police helicopter was also deployed.

According to a taxi driver who spoke to AT5, there were at least thirty police cars. “I seriously counted them, I drove past them.” The driver also says that he had heard from another person that there may have been a chase with a scooter.

“Political party supporters”

A spokesman for the Rai said that around 9 p.m. supporters of different political parties clashed. “All week there was a tense atmosphere in the elections in the Rai. Tonight that has escalated. Extra security was already present,” According to the spokesperson, it was not voters who caused disturbances, but supporters of political parties who attended the elections in the Rai are present.

The police previously reported that it is restless in and around the Rai from 8 p.m. “In principle, it is an event where the responsibility for security lies with both the Rai and the consulate that regulates the elections. Now something has happened, which means that we have to act in such large numbers,” a spokesperson previously reported.

At around 11 p.m., dozens of people were still present in front of the Rai. Some tell our reporter that they still want to vote. The polling station closed at 9 p.m. A police helicopter has been hovering over the Rai for some time now.

Previous disturbances

Last weekend there were also disturbances during the Turkish elections in the Rai. Since last Saturday, Turkish Dutch people have been able to vote in the hall in South for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey. That opportunity ended tonight at 9 p.m.

The video below shows how the police intervene in the Rai.

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