Hundreds of individuals within the Netherlands defied a ban on assembling and demonstrated Sunday in opposition to the Dutch authorities’s coronavirus lockdown measures, gathering on a central sq. earlier than marching towards a park in Amsterdam.
A small group of demonstrators briefly clashed with riot police as officers labored to clear the gang from Museum Sq. based mostly on an order from Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. Reporters on the scene noticed at the least one particular person being detained.
Learn extra:
Netherlands going into lockdown once more as Omicron circumstances surge throughout Europe
The native authorities had outlawed the protest, saying police had indications some demonstrators could be planning to attend “ready for violence.” The municipality later issued an emergency order for individuals to go away the sq., and riot police marched throughout the grass to clear the realm, sending the demonstrators into close by streets.
Earlier than officers moved in, some contributors unfurled a banner that learn, “Much less repression, extra care” close to the Van Gogh Museum. A bunch of individuals in white overalls and white masks held up indicators, together with one which stated: “It’s not a few virus, it’s about management” on one facet and “Freedom” on the opposite. One particular person walked via the gang carrying a “Trump 2024” flag.
There was a heavy police presence on the sq. and in close by streets. The municipality designated the realm as a safety threat area, giving police the authority to frisk individuals preventatively.
After marching via town, demonstrators started gathering at a western Amsterdam park for a rally of the populist Discussion board for Democracy occasion.
Learn extra:
Dutch police detain dozens as COVID-19 protests flip violent for 2nd night time
The demonstration got here on the identical day Dutch police stated they might take motion to protest the rising calls for of their work. Union representatives have stated riot police would proceed to work, if mandatory.
Coronavirus an infection charges have been progressively reducing for weeks within the Netherlands, which re-introduced lockdown measures in November and tightened them additional through the vacation season.
The 7-day rolling common of latest day by day circumstances edged barely decrease over the previous week to 85.55 new circumstances per 100,000 individuals even because the omicron mutation turned the nation’s dominant variant.
Below the lockdown, all non-essential retailers are closed together with bars, eating places and venues comparable to museums, theaters and cinemas.
In November, a coronavirus demonstration erupted into violent rioting in Rotterdam and demonstrations on Museum Sq. have led to confrontations between police and protesters who ignored orders to go away the realm.
View hyperlink »
© 2022 The Canadian Press
