Police intervene at climate demonstration on A12 near The Hague, first demonstrators deported | Interior

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Jan 28, 2023 at 12:17 Update: 6 minutes ago

Hundreds of climate activists walked onto the A12 in The Hague around noon on Saturday to form a blockade there. Extinction Rebellion supporters did this despite police warnings. The police decided to intervene around a quarter to one. The first protesters were lifted by the police and put in a van.

The blockade of the Utrechtsebaan is taking place near the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the temporary building of the House of Representatives.

Demonstrators were previously called by the police to go to the Malieveld, but did not respond. A group of people has attached themselves to each other through a special construction. They are squatting on the road.

An activist also climbed a pole. According to eyewitnesses, boos are heard towards the officers. Observers from Amnesty International are standing along the side of the road to see and record how the demonstration is progressing.

The road is closed to traffic in both directions, which is being diverted. There are many agents present. Road users are warned by the police on Twitter: “Make sure to pay attention to your own safety and that of others.”

‘Go what better people do with the poen’

From 11.30 am, various groups gathered around the highway, the Malieveld and the temporary House of Representatives building. Moments later, they blocked the highway. The activists carry banners and signs with texts such as ‘We stand for the right to protest’, ‘Do something better with all that money’ and ‘Arrest the real climate crooks’.

In recent days, seven supporters of Extinction Rebellion have been arrested because of the announced protest against the government’s handling of fossil subsidies. They had called on others to participate in the blockade of the Utrechtsebaan.

Many celebrities attended the protest

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the activists are guilty of sedition. They are now free again, but are not allowed to enter the Utrechtsebaan for the time being.

One of them is actor Sieger Sloot. Singer MEROL and writer Maartje Wortel also participate in the protest and stand among the demonstrators. Actress Georgina Verbaan said earlier this week that she was also present at the protest.

Actress Katja Herbers, who recently prominently expressed her support for the climate movement, is not at the protest. She is in New York for filming, her spokesperson said on Friday.

Image: ANP

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The HagueClimateBinnenlandExtinction Rebellion

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