Police shoot protesters in the Netherlands

Two people were being treated at a hospital in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Saturday for serious injuries when police fired shots during a violent protest against measures related to the fight against the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19), authorities said.

Hundreds of rioters set cars on fire, set off firecrackers and threw stones at police during Friday night's protests, and police responded by firing warning shots and opening water cannons.

The Rotterdam police announced on Twitter today that 51 people had been arrested, half of whom were under the age of 18.

Police added: "Two rioters were shot and are still in hospital."

The city's mayor, Ahmed Abu Talib, said the protest had turned into "reckless violence".

He added in a press conference: "The police had to withdraw their weapons and shoot directly."

"Excessive violence against police and firefighters in Rotterdam is abhorrent," Justice Minister Verd Graberhaus said in a statement.

"The right to protest is very important in our society, but what we saw last night was criminal behaviour," he added.

Protesters had gathered to protest government plans to prevent entry to enclosed spaces for those without a health pass, which shows that they have received or recovered from the Covid-19 disease.

A person who has not received the vaccination may also possess this passport, provided that proof is provided that he is free of disease.

Organizers of a similar protest scheduled for today in Amsterdam said they canceled it after yesterday's violence.

However, several hundred protesters appeared in Dam Square in the city center under a heavy police presence.

In the southern city of Breda, hundreds gathered in a protest called by the city's music, song and entertainment stakeholders against the current Covid-19 measures, which include closing bars, restaurants and clubs at 8 pm.

The Netherlands re-imposed some closure measures early last week for an initial three weeks, with the aim of containing the increase in infections.

However, the daily infection rate remained high and reached its highest level since the start of the pandemic.

And the authorities recorded more than 23,000 new infections on Thursday, compared to the previous highest daily rate recorded in December 2020, which amounted to 13,000.

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