Hague police send ice hockey fans home over public order concerns

By Janene Pieters on February 4, 2019 - 09:39
new police uniform 1
New Dutch police uniforms feature a broad yellow stripe (photo: Politie). (New Dutch police uniforms feature a broad yellow stripe (photo: Politie))

The police in The Hague sent two buses carrying ice hockey supporters back to Nijmegen on Sunday due to concerns for public order and safety. Two supporters were arrested, one for incitement and the other for assaulting a police officer, a police spokesperson said to NU.nl.

The AHOUD Devils supporters from Nijmegen were on their way to the cup finals against Hijs Hokij in De Uithof in The Hague. The police pulled the buses over at a gas station on the A4 at the Den Haag-Zuid exit, after the police "received information" that the supporters were under the influence of alcohol. The police spokesperson could not tell NU.nl where the information came from.

The police searched the buses and their passengers. They found fireworks and "weighted gloves". Mayor Pauline Krikke then decided to issue an emergency order because she "seriously feared disruption of public order", her spokesperson said to the newspaper. The ice hockey fans were sent back to Nijmegen.

There was also a large police presence at De Uithof during the match on Sunday. According to the police spokesperson, this was customary "because many people came to the finals". A number of people were arrested during several disturbances after the game. 

The AHOUD Devils won the match 3-4. 

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