Police carried protesters onto buses to clear the highway
Greater than 1,500 local weather protesters have been arrested by police within the Netherlands after blocking a serious motorway in The Hague.
In the course of the protest, organised by Extinction Insurrection, activists walked onto the A12 freeway demanding an finish to fossil gasoline subsidies.
Police fired water cannon to attempt to disperse the crowds – however many got here ready in raincoats and swimsuits.
Most arrested protesters have been launched, however police stated 40 can be prosecuted.
Amongst these at Saturday’s protest have been a number of Dutch celebrities, together with actress Carice van Houten, recognized for taking part in Melisandre in TV sequence Sport of Thrones. She was arrested however later allowed to return house, Dutch information company ANP stated.
Extinction Insurrection accused police of utilizing water cannon simply quarter-hour after the beginning of the blockade – however police said they had asked the activists to depart and gave them an opportunity to take action earlier than utilizing the water cannon.
The 1,579 individuals who refused to depart have been then arrested.
Some protesters wore raincoats to face the water cannon
Forty individuals will nonetheless be prosecuted, police stated, after being arrested for different prison offences similar to vandalism and resisting arrest leading to harm.
The arrests occurred within the house of just some hours and the highway was cleared by early night on Saturday.
Extinction Insurrection stated at the very least 6,000 individuals demonstrated on the A12 or subsequent to it – together with the “A12 orchestra” of greater than 80 musicians.
It’s the seventh time Extinction Insurrection protesters have blocked the A12. Protesting on this highway is banned beneath guidelines introduced in by the mayor.
