Another suspect arrested oven violence between youths in Beverwijk; Schools reopen
The police arrested another suspect in the investigation into recent unrest and violent incidents between young people in Heemskerk, Beverwijk, and Haarlem. The police released no details about the suspect’s identity, only saying that they were arrested on Sunday evening on suspicion of “involvement in the serious assault and robbery that occurred as part of the conflict between youth groups.”
Five secondary schools in Beverwijk and Heemskerk remained closed on Friday for fear of violence after disturbing images and messages were posted on social media. It included a video of a violent assault, an AI-produced video of an explosion at a school, and reports of a school shooting. One school in Haarlem also canceled classes for this reason.
Beverwijk Mayor Martijn Smit said in a statement that the situation is calm again and the schools will be open as usual on Monday. “It has always been safe. The unrest mainly took place online and between a few rival groups,” he said in a statement on behalf of the Beverwijk and Heemskerk municipalities. He stressed that “anyone who uses violence or spreads fake news” will face firm action.
Smit also said that “several investigations into criminal offenses” are ongoing. The arrest on Sunday was the fourth in this case. The police arrested two teenagers on Saturday and a man from Heemskerk on Friday for involvement in the unrest. The Heemskerk man arrested on Friday is still in custody on suspicion of incitement. He will be arraigned on Monday. A 19-year-old from Beverwijk arrested on Saturday is suspected of illegal weapons possession, and a minor from Haarlem is suspected of spreading fake news and inciting images.
According to NU.nl, the unrest is caused by two rival groups, with young people from Beverwijk and Heemskerk on one side and young people from Haarlem on the other. The feud has been going on for some time and escalated after an assault at the festival week in Heemskerk early in September.
