No arrests after pro-Palestinian protests in Utrecht, 36 in Amsterdam | Domestic

In Utrecht, about forty demonstrators were taken away by bus during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. According to it Digital University Magazine (DUB) they were dropped off at the door of a cell complex in Houten and were allowed to go home without further consequences.

A building of Utrecht University on the Drift was occupied on Wednesday. That evening, the police announced via X that the building would be evacuated due to trespassing. Earlier in the day there was already a demonstration on Domplein.

The demonstrators prepared themselves for a long sit-down. An attendee ANPreporter saw them bringing in full shopping bags with food. At the start of the action, there were still unsuspecting students in the building, who were very shocked. Some are said to have left the building crying.

According to the spokesperson for the Utrecht police, the streets were quiet again around 2:30 am. No destruction was found in the building occupied by the demonstrators.

All buildings of Utrecht University will remain closed until Monday 8:00 am. The university wants to “prevent further nuisance and potentially unsafe situations”. Utrecht University “urges all its students to maintain peace, prevent further escalation and continue to treat each other with respect.”

The activists want the university to cut all ties with Israeli institutions. For the same reason, buildings at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) have been occupied since Tuesday. The Amsterdam university entered into discussions with the demonstrators, but did not reach a solution. The UvA then filed a report and the demonstration was disbanded.

The demonstrators were ordered to leave, but did not comply. The police then decided to intervene. Officers arrested several demonstrators. Many demonstrators were removed from the site, but not arrested. This allowed a large group to gather on the Rokin to continue the demonstration.

There the police were again pelted with eggs and stones and attacked with crush barriers. Police said protesters also threw ammonia at officers. Ultimately, the mobile unit also had to be involved here. The demonstration was disbanded around 9:45 p.m., after which riot police cleared the square.

In contrast to Utrecht, arrests have been made in Amsterdam. 32 people were arrested for public violence, destruction, assault or incitement. 5 police officers were injured, Amsterdam police chief Frank Paauw said in the NPO Radio 1 program Sven on 1.

Om een vraag te kunnen stellen dien je in te loggen. Log in of maak binnen 1 minuut jouw gratis account aan.