Van drives through Extinction Rebellion protesters during A12 blockade in The Hague

A van driving through a crowd of Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters on the A12 highway in The Hague on Saturday sparked a tense incident during the climate demonstration. According to a police spokesperson, the van moved slowly through a line of activists who were blocking the road, resulting in a brief altercation.

The action, organized by XR to protest fossil fuel subsidies, began around noon, with groups of activists sitting on various sections of the A12 highway. Protesters aimed to disrupt traffic as part of their call for government action on climate change.

At one point, the van reportedly approached the group blocking the road at a slow pace. Footage shared by XR shows the van driving through the crowd, which led to some protesters allegedly scratching the vehicle’s door. The incident escalated when the passenger in the van was forced to hold the door closed to prevent protesters from opening it. No injuries were reported, and no arrests were made at the scene.

Police confirmed the driver provided a statement regarding the incident, but the details of that statement have not been made public. It remains unclear what actions, if any, the authorities will take in response.

Traffic around The Hague has come to a standstill due to a demonstration by XR on the A12, according to the ANWB. The traffic service reported heavy congestion on the A4 and N14 highways, which were recommended as detours by Rijkswaterstaat. Traffic on the A12 itself is also reportedly gridlocked.