Dozens of farmers and sympathizers protested in Leeuwarden on Wednesday against the shooting of a moving tractor by the police on Tuesday evening and the subsequent arrest of the 16-year-old driver.
During a protest by farmers against the nitrogen policy of the cabinet near Heerenveen, according to the police, “a threatening situation” arose around 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Tractor drivers “tried to run into officers and service vehicles.” Police say they fired warning shots and targeted shots. A tractor was hit.
16-year-old Jouke drove in that tractor, according to statements from farmers’ corner. Justice suspected him, and two others who were present at the protest, of attempted manslaughter.
On Wednesday, dozens of farmers with tractors and other demonstrators gathered in front of the provincial house in Leeuwarden and the cell complex located further away where the 16-year-old would be detained. They unsuccessfully demanded Jouke’s release and expressed their dissatisfaction with the police’s reading of the incident. According to them, video footage shows that the tractor did not run into the police.
The images show how a red tractor, which cannot move because a police car is blocking the main road, drives over the stone median strip and turns left on the wrong side of the road. A few meters away are two police officers with their pistols drawn. As the tractor drives past them and shortly after disappears from view, two shots are heard.
The two men and the boy were released on Wednesday evening, the Public Prosecution Service reported. “There is no reason to detain the suspects any longer on the suspicion of attempted manslaughter.”
Farmers Defense Force chairman Mark van den Oever stated in a vlog on Wednesday that the shooting officer should be “behind bars” because there was “no life-threatening situation at all”. According to Van den Oever, the tractor driver kept a sufficient distance and did not drive into the officers, while shots were fired at his cab from behind.
Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD) said on Wednesday that speculating on the basis of internet videos is pointless. She pointed out that the National Criminal Investigation Department is investigating, as is usual with firearms use by the police.
Part of the House of Representatives was nevertheless extremely shocked on the basis of the video images. Member of Parliament Caroline van der Plas of the BoerBurgerBeweging posted a photo on Twitter of a suspected bullet hole in a tractor door. She asked for an emergency debate with the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. However, the request, which was supported by Forum for Democracy among others, did not receive sufficient support.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of 7 July 2022