Gaza protesters occupy "life-threatening" building at Radboud Univ.; Several arrested
Pro-Palestinian protesters have occupied a building of the Radboud University in Nijmegen. The police arrested several of them around midnight. The university spoke of a “life-threatening situation” because the building contains superconducting magnets and cooling gases. The university and police confirmed on Wednesday morning that the occupation had ended.
The police arrested 23 activists. This mostly happened as they left the occupied building, the Goudsmit Pavilion, around midnight. The activists are affiliated with the Nijmegen Student Encampment.
On Tuesday night, the police said they were leaving the activists inside undisturbed for safety reasons. The situation inside was too dangerous, a police spokesperson told NOS. The police have “done everything possible” to end the occupation without jeopardizing the safety of police officers and protesters.
Officers continued to guard the building and ensure no one else could enter. Protesters leaving the building were arrested.
Mayor Hubert Bruls of Nijmegen also stressed the danger of being in that building. “For example, if a police officer goes inside, their hostler could trigger a reaction from the magnets,” Bruls told De Gelderlander. That could trigger an implosion that would drain all the oxygen from the occupied space. “That will really cost lives.”
According to Omroep Gelderland, the occupiers were protesting against a proposed collaboration between Radboud University and an Israeli university. They planned to occupy the building until Radboud University breaks all ties with Israel.
