Night of Violence: 13 Arrested After Brutal Anti-Asylum Protest Erupts
At least two police officers were injured on Wednesday evening during violent clashes at a demonstration against an asylum seekers’ center in Loosdrecht, as tensions escalated and riot police were forced to intervene.
The unrest began when demonstrators turned against law enforcement, throwing heavy fireworks and other objects. Authorities confirmed that officers were struck during the chaos, although the exact number of injured officers may be higher. Reports also mentioned objects like soda cans being thrown at police.
In one serious incident, a demonstrator drove his car over the foot of a riot police officer. The suspect, a 20-year-old man from Bilthoven, was arrested on suspicion of attempted manslaughter. Emergency responders examined the injured officer at the scene.
In total, thirteen individuals were arrested. Three were detained for insult, one for disturbing public order, and eight for refusing to leave the area. Most of those arrested were from Hilversum and Loosdrecht, while others came from Utrecht and Veghel.
The demonstration marked the third consecutive evening of protests in the gemeente Wijdemeren (municipality of Wijdemeren) against the planned emergency opvang (emergency shelter) in the vacant gemeentehuis (town hall) in Loosdrecht. The situation escalated around 8:30 p.m., with protesters throwing fireworks, eggs, and cans at both police and the building.
Videos circulating on social media show police using batons during the intervention. Authorities stated that force was only used after repeated warnings for the crowd to disperse, emphasizing that all actions would be reviewed as part of standard procedure.
The recent demonstrations were not officially registered in advance. Meanwhile, calls are spreading online urging people to gather again on Thursday evening, a development the municipality says it is closely monitoring.