Published: Just now
More than 1,500 people were arrested in connection with a large protest action by climate activists in the Dutch Hague on Saturday.
The activists blocked part of the A12 motorway during the afternoon. The protest was directed against the Netherlands’ tax breaks for fossil fuels and the initiator was the organization Extinction Rebellion. According to the group, a total of around 7,000 people participated.
The action was the seventh of its kind to be held on this particular section of the highway, which is adjacent to the Dutch government quarters in The Hague. According to the Dutch news agency ANP, the number of arrests is the highest so far.
Police intervened and fired water cannons at the crowd to disperse it. Among the activists, many had expected this and dressed in bathing suits or brought umbrellas.
– We will stay here until they drag us away, says 31-year-old PhD student Anne Kerevers to AFP.
– Climate change is a developing crisis and we know the cause. It continues to be subsidized by our government and it must stop.
Several Dutch celebrities were among the participants. One of them was the actor Carice van Houten, known for her role as Melisandre in the TV series “Game of thrones”. She posted pictures of herself on social media where she was doused with water from police water cannons. According to ANP, she is one of the people who was then arrested.
40 people will be prosecuted further for vandalism, The Hague Police announces.