Five minors sentenced to community service for Scheveningen riots against police
The Hague prosecutors have sentenced five minors to community service of 40 to 50 hours for their roles in the violent riots in Scheveningen on May 1, the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) stated Friday. The youths, aged 15 to 17 at the time, were found guilty of open violence against police officers during the unrest.
On the evening of May 1, hundreds of young people clashed with police near the Kurhaus in Scheveningen. The riot police were attacked with stones, bicycles, and glass objects, while widespread damage was inflicted on street furniture and business property in the surrounding area.
Prosecutors had originally demanded work sentences ranging from 80 to 100 hours for four of the youths and another minor. Evidence, including video footage, clearly showed their participation in the violence, the OM stated. The children’s court convicted four of the five defendants, imposing reduced sentences, while one was acquitted.
The court took into account the ages and personal circumstances of the youths but emphasized the severity and social impact of the riots. “They were partly responsible for the large unrest that erupted, which significantly affected both the riot police and people in The Hague and across the country,” the OM stated.
So far, a total of ten suspects, all minors, have been arrested in connection with the Scheveningen riots. Several others are reportedly still awaiting summonses, and the investigation continues.
