Netherlands celebrates New Year's without major incidents; Emergency services pelted with fireworks
The Netherlands' entered 2017 without any major problems. There were a number minor clashes between police and party goers, but not massive incidents. Emergency services throughout the country had to deal with young people pelting fireworks at them during the course of their duties.
A police officer in The Hague was seriously injured after being hit by a car. But according to the police, this was an accident - there is no sign of intent, according to the Volkskrant.
In Elim the riot police had to be deployed to help firefighters perform their duty. Emergency services responded to Dorpsstraat just after 1:00 a.m. after reports of a fire. Firefighters got to work extinguishing the fire, but a group of 70 youths started pelting them with fireworks. Fireworks were also thrown at police officers. A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy from Elim were arrested. Both are in custody for further investigation.
Police officers were also pelted with fireworks at a bonfire on Dalwagen in Dodewaard. A 17-year-old boy from Dodewaard was arrested. The same happened to two police officers on Riederlaan in Rotterdam, a 19-year-old was arrested, and on Wibaustraat in Zaandam, three boys age 14 and 15 were arrested.
A massive 48 people were arrested by SWAT teams and riot police in the Amersfoort neighborhood of Koppel for throwing fireworks at officials. One officer was injured in the face by a firework and had to go to hospital for treatment.
In Veen firefighters had fireworks pelted at them as thy were trying to extinguish a car fire. Firefighters in Overvecht, Utrecht and in Leiden dealt with the same problem. as far as is known, no one was injured, AD reports.
In Purmerend the police had to rescue a 44-year-old woman from the water on Zuierpad around 3:24 on Sunday morning. She was hypothermic and rushed to the hospital in critical condition. According to the police, her condition is fair under the circumstances.
In The Hague four officers were injured on Newtonplein while trying to arrest a 16 year old boy for setting a trash can alight around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday. A group of about 10 bystanders interfered with the arrest and turned against the officers. One officer was taken to hospital with a head wound. The police officers pressed assault charges. Detectives call on witnesses to come forward.
In Alkmaar a 19-year-old man was arrested around on Kajakstraat 4:00 a.m. He assaulted a police officer while the officer was bringing another suspect under control. Two other officers intervened and arrested the man.
The police in Noord-Nederland arrested a total of 40 people over New Year's for offenses ranging from insult to arson. The other police departments have not published their arrest figures yet.
