Rotterdam cops threatened by Erdogan supporters: mayor

Police officers in Rotterdam were threatened by supporters of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb wrote to the city council. According to him, there were "several signs of threat and intimidation" and these were mostly directed at officers with a Turkish background, RTL Nieuws reports.

This happened in the aftermath of riots triggered by a visit from Turkish Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya earlier this year. She wanted to give a speech at the Turkish consulate in the city, but was escorted out of the Netherlands. Threatened police officers received support from their team leaders. And officers directly involved in the disturbances around the consulate were given "intensive after care". "This care is still being granted", the mayor said.

Since an attempted coup in Turkey last year, a total of 134 crimes were reported in Rotterdam that were related to tension in the Turkish community in the city. 28 suspects were arrested for intimidation, threats and a single violent incident. According to the public prosecutor, none of the suspects are still custody. "More arrests are not ruled out", Aboutaleb wrote.