Fireworks, arson problems in Arnhem for 5th consecutive night

Arnhem again saw problems with young people throwing fireworks and setting fires in the Geitenkamp district on Sunday night. The police have had their hands full with similar issues since Wednesday, De Gelerlander reports.

At around 8:00 p.m., young people started throwing fireworks at people on Schuttersbergweg. Flares exploded on cars, houses and people. Various fires were started, and multiple items were vandalized, according to the newspaper. Calm returned to the neighborhood around midnight, though there were still some fires to extinguish. As far as is known, no arrests were made.

Many local residents were terrified. They want to know from mayor Ahmed Marcouch why the police did not intervene harshly. "You call 112, but then you're told that they would only come if someone was injured and medical treatment was necessary. This cannot be allowed, I feel unsafe in my own neighborhood. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep," one local said to De Gelerlander.

According to the local residents, many of the young people who caused problems over the past nights do not come from Geitenkamp.

Arnhem mayor Marcouch previously called on parents to keep their children home. "Parents must take their responsibility," he said in response to the fireworks issues in the neighborhood, according to the newspaper. "I find that lacking."