Video: Dutch police arrest more than 270 after A12 highway blockade near Utrecht
Dutch police on Saturday arrested more than 270 people after breaking up a highway blockade on the A12 near Utrecht involving activists from Extinction Rebellion and Utrecht4Palestine. Police, however, said the blockade was quickly broken within an hour through coordinated intervention.
The main disruption began around 12:00 p.m. on the A12 near the Houten exit, where several vehicles stopped on the parallel carriageway, blocking traffic.
The 21 occupants of the vehicles that formed the physical roadblock were arrested at the scene and taken into custody at a police station. Officials confirmed the vehicles were confiscated as part of the investigation into the obstruction and endangerment of road safety. Police said they are reviewing camera footage and other evidence to identify additional perpetrators.
The 270 arrests included groups of demonstrators who had gathered at multiple nearby locations, including P+R Westraven, Ringwade, and Laagravenseweg. Police units prevented these groups from reaching the highway.
The mayor of Utrecht had earlier designated Domplein as the official protest location under the Public Assemblies Act (WOM), warning that entering the highway is both illegal and dangerous. Police confirmed that no demonstrators appeared at that site on Saturday.
