Over 1,500 arrested at climate protest in Netherlands
More than 1,500 people were arrested during a protest by the Extinction Rebellion climate group in The Hague on Saturday, Dutch police said.
Activists blocked a section of a motorway during the afternoon in protest against Dutch fossil fuel subsidies, AFP reported.
Police said they had used water cannon to disperse activists blocking a major road in the city, and arrested “a total of 1,579 people... 40 of whom will be prosecuted” on charges including vandalism.
One of the activists bit a policeman during his arrest, police said. According to Extinction Rebellion (XR), some 7,000 people gathered to join the demonstration. The protest marks the seventh organised by XR
in the same section of motorway at The Hague, close to the parliament and main ministry buildings.
But Saturday saw the highest number of people arrested at a protest yet, according to Dutch news agency ANP.
The environmental campaign group, shortened to XR, has become known for the disruptive and headline-catching stunts which have become their trademark.
In recent years the group has caused huge disruption, hitting roads, airports and other public transport networks with direct action protests against climate change.
But in January it called a temporary halt to its high-profile stunts, and instead promised to mobilise huge numbers against what it sees as government inaction against global warming.
In April it held four days of action in London, including mobilising thousands to rally outside the UK parliament.
In recent months it has also rallied at airports across Europe, including protests at Eindhoven airport in The Netherlands in March. This week it joined other groups in demonstrating against Europe’s biggest private jet sales fair in Geneva.
Some activists chained themselves to the planes on display, and air traffic was briefly disrupted at the airport due to people on the tarmac.