Cop claims he was unaware woman he pushed down at asylum shelter was pregnant

The police officer who, during the widely discussed arrest at the asylum seeker centre in Zeist, pulled a woman to the ground did not know she was pregnant, according to the police. “He states that he would have acted differently if he had known,” the police said, adding that it is sharing additional information about the incident on its website.

A video of the May 19 arrest, widely circulated on social media, shows a police officer grabbing a woman by the arm and pulling her away, after which she falls to the ground. The footage later also shows her being dragged by her hood and arm.

Police arrested a 30-year-old man from Zeist during an intervention at the asylum seeker centre following reports of vandalism and threats. On arrival, a staff member said they had already managed to disarm the suspect by taking a knife from him.

The man then barricaded himself in a room, prompting officers to fear he might still be carrying a second weapon. According to a police spokesperson, that was not the case. Officers eventually persuaded him to come outside, and, during the operation, a taser was drawn as a precaution.

The woman was standing close to the man when he was arrested and was repeatedly asked to keep her distance, the police said. When she did not comply, officers physically intervened. “The woman then told them she was pregnant, after which immediate action was taken, and she was examined by ambulance staff,” the police said.

Police are currently investigating the use of force during the arrest. A spokesperson said it is not yet known whether the woman has filed a formal complaint or report.