Dramatic footage has shown what appears to be a full-blown riot raging in the Hague, with groups of rival youths pelting police vans with bricks, with another clip showing a car on fire, and police using tear gas to quell the disturbances.
Netherlands-based journalist Owen O’Brien shared the footage, commenting: “Rioters break into an entrance at the #Opera.
“Windows are broken and attempts are made to enter.
“The fire brigade has also left again and cannot extinguish the fire.”
One youth appears to be holding a cloth to his face, possibly to minimise the impact of tear gas.
A separate clip showed what appeared to be riot police with batons and shields standing by a building with smashed windows, and several burning vehicles.
And a third clip shows a police car engulfed by flames.
Jan van Zanen, mayor of The Hague, authorised police to use tear gas, a spokesman told the Netherlands Times.
Mr Van Zanen also issued an emergency order for the area around Fruitweg, a spokesperson for the municipality of The Hague added.
The paper also reported that the violence stemmed from “a brawl between two groups of Eritreans”.
The Hague Municipality spokesman Robin Middel said.
Middel said a group loyal to Eritrea’s government was holding a meeting when the venue was attacked by Eritreans who oppose the African nation’s government.
Police spokeswoman Kristianne van Blanken said she could not immediately say if anybody was injured or if any rioters were arrested.
Police Unit The Hague posted on X: “At #Fruitweg in #DenHaag a confrontation between two groups of Eritreans resulted in a fight.
“Stones were thrown. We act with the riot police, among others, to restore public order.”
It subsequently added: “It is not yet clear whether any arrests have been made and/or whether any injuries have been reported. The mayor of #DenHaag has given permission for the use of tear gas.
“This has now also been used to restore public order.”
The fighting is the latest outbreak of violence at Eritrean events in Europe.
Dozens of people, including at least 26 police officers, were injured during unrest surrounding an Eritrean cultural festival in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart in September 2023. A fight the same month between Eritrean government supporters and opponents in Tel Aviv led to violent street confrontations among African asylum-seekers and migrants.
Months earlier, a clash at an Eritrean festival in the western German city of Giessen left 22 police officers injured.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Eritrea for Europe, many alleging they were mistreated by the repressive government of President Isaias Afwerki. The conflicts underscore deep divisions among members of the Eritrean diaspora between those who remain close to the government and those who have fled to live in exile and strongly oppose Isaias.
The Hague is the administrative centre of the Netherlands, and the location of the Dutch government.
More than 200 people were arrested in riots which erupted there on New Year’s Eve.
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