The Hague officials condemn beach riots as ‘horrific and disrespectful’
The investigation into Thursday night’s violent riots in Scheveningen is ongoing, with no arrests made yet, a police spokeswoman confirmed Saturday. While the authorities are reviewing images and video footage from the incident, they have not yet identified any specific suspects, according to De Telegraaf.
In response to the chaos, the municipality of The Hague strongly condemned the violence. The city’s college of mayor and aldermen called the riots “horrific and utterly disrespectful,” stating that the beautiful summer day on the beach had been ruined for both locals and visitors.
“The end of a lovely beach day was marred by groups of young people engaging in riots,” said Deputy Mayor Mariëlle Vavier in a statement. “The police acted swiftly to disperse the crowds and ensure the safety of bystanders. It is appalling that these youths turned their aggression toward the very police officers who were there to protect public safety.”
The Hague has pledged to increase police presence at the beach over the weekend. In addition to the law enforcement, extra lifeguards, enforcement officers, and security personnel will be stationed along the coast to maintain order.
The riots erupted when a group of several hundred youths clashed in the area around the Kurhaus and the beach, following what authorities say were online threats. The situation escalated when police intervened, and the crowd turned violent, throwing stones, bottles, and bicycles at the officers. As a result, one police officer and a police horse sustained minor injuries.
The municipal authorities also advised individuals involved in the riots to come forward voluntarily. “Come to the police before you are identified,” the college of mayor and aldermen urged, as they noted that significant footage of the event had been recorded.
The investigation is being closely monitored by Mayor Jan van Zanen, who, despite being on an official trip to Uruguay, is in regular contact with local police and officials.
Reporting by ANP and NL Times
