Anti-asylum protesters throw fireworks, eggs at cops in Loosdrecht; Riot police deployed
Riot police broke up a demonstration around the town hall in Loosdrecht last night after anti-asylum protesters started pelting cops with fireworks and eggs. No arrests were made, but the police are investigating whether any crimes were committed, RTL Nieuws and NH Nieuws reported.
Around 500 people gathered in the Noord-Holland village to protest the decision to allow 110 asylum seekers to stay in the largely empty town hall until November.
According to the municipality, the protest on Rading started peacefully, but gradually became increasingly grim. Mayor Mark Verheijen asked the riot police to break up the demonstration after protesters “aimed heavy illegal fireworks at police officers,” the municipality said.
Around 300 protesters remained at the site when the riot police intervened. Things had calmed down again at around 10:00 p.m.
The town hall in Loosdrecht is standing mostly empty because the municipality of Wijdemeren, which covers Loosdrecht, will merge with the neighboring municipality of Hilversum at the end of the year.
On Friday, the municipality announced that it had allowed the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) to open a temporary shelter in the empty town hall.
