09 Sep 2023 at 20:17
The police removed all demonstrators who blocked the A12 in The Hague on Saturday afternoon. Rijkswaterstaat has not yet opened the road to traffic.
Thousands of people took to the road around noon on Saturday and occupied it for a long time.
About 1.5 hours after the action started, the demonstrators were ordered to leave the highway. After they did not respond, water throwers were deployed.
NU.nl reporter Emma van Bergeijk reported on the spot that the demonstrators were not impressed by the water cannon. According to her, it actually created a “cheerful atmosphere”.
About an hour after the first time, the police used the water cannons again. This time a harder jet of water was used. Shortly before, the police once again called on the demonstrators to leave the highway. This time too, this was not heeded. More people just came to stand in front of the water cannon.
The water cannons had little effect on Saturday’s climate protest. Photo: ANP
Water cannons pointless, police take demonstrators to ADO stadium
The police then decided to remove them one by one and take them by bus to the ADO Den Haag stadium. Police used batons to clear the road. This was done in accordance with the police guidelines for violence. The detainees were released at the ADO stadium.
There was still an activist in a mast until about 7:10 p.m. It was removed using an aerial work platform. Along the side of the road, people shouted and sang that they would return on Sunday to reoccupy the A12. The road is currently being cleared and cleared so that traffic can use it again.
Images on social media show activists using some violence at the hands of police officers #a12 are achieved. This happened in a situation where the officers were hindered in their work. We explain this in our live blog: https://t.co/LTr3ZiGcG5
— Police Unit The Hague (@POL_DenHaag) September 9, 2023
9,000 demonstrators and 1,500 climate protest supporters
The police have arrested 2,400 people, including ten minors. According to the municipality, a maximum of 9,000 demonstrators were present around the A12. About 1,500 people had also gathered to support the demonstrators. In total, this amounts to “between 10,000 and a maximum of 12,000 people”, according to the municipality.
The organizers of the demonstration claim that there are almost twice as many. According to them, there were 16,000 on or around the A12, and 4,000 at the support demonstration. That would amount to about 20,000 people. According to Milieudefensie, there could even be 25,000.
The organizers actually wanted to hold the support protest on the Malieveld, but the municipality did not allow that. By the way, he had not given permission for the Extinction Rebellion demonstration on the highway. The organization has announced that it plans to block the stretch of highway near the temporary House of Representatives and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate every day from Saturday – until the government stops subsidies to the fossil industry.
