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Dutch riot police clashed on Saturday with around 500 far-right protesters in the centre of The Hague, using baton charges, specialist dogs, and water cannon to disperse the crowd after violence erupted.
Demonstrators pelted officers with fireworks and other projectiles, shouted anti-semitic chants, and performed Nazi salutes during the “We Are The People” rally, which was organised to protest government policies on immigration and asylum.
“We’re losing our country. We’re literally losing our country to mass migration,” 31-year-old mechanic Thijs Jansen told news agencies at the scene.
Protesters had intended to march through the city, but local authorities banned the procession and ordered the crowd to disperse after clashes broke out at the Malieveld, a central park where demonstrators had gathered. Mounted police made several arrests during the operation.
Justice Minister David van Weel condemned the “disgusting scenes” on social media platform X, calling for an “extremely firm” response to violence against law enforcement and the use of hate speech.
“Thanks to all the police officers who are once again standing up for our democratic rule of law,” van Weel wrote.
Saturday’s unrest follows similar violence a year prior during a right-wing demonstration in the city, when rioters set a police car on fire and targeted the headquarters of the centrist D66 party, currently led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
Additional sources • AFP, AP