Mass violence erupted in The Hague, Netherlands, Saturday night as hundreds of African migrants clashed with police, vandalized property, and ignited fires, underscoring ongoing tensions and challenges associated with multiculturalism.
The disturbance reportedly unfolded during a gathering of the Eritrean community in the city, where Dutch parliament is based, sparking clashes between rival groups.
Footage depicted protesters breaching the Opera Zalencentrum venue, prompting police to employ tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Rioters escalated the situation by hurling bricks, bottles, and wielding sticks against law enforcement officers. According to Dutch News, four police officers sustained injuries during the unrest, with few arrests made.
Mariëlle van Vulpen, a local police chief, condemned the violence, stating, “Our colleagues were confronted with very serious violence which erupted out of nothing. This is unacceptable.”
Dilan Yesilgöz, acting justice minister, denounced the attacks on emergency service workers, asserting that repercussions would follow.
Jan van Zanen, the city mayor, labeled the rioting as “disgusting and unacceptable,” highlighting previous reports of disruptive behavior linked to the “Brigade Nhamedu” group. This faction has been associated with riots in Sweden, Canada, and the US in the past year.
The disturbance’s root cause mirrors a similar incident in London a month prior, where pro-government Eritreans clashed with anti-regime migrants during an event.
The upheaval adds to mounting concerns over the EU’s migration pact, criticized as “the suicide of Europe,” potentially leading to an influx of up to 75 million new migrants.