Two people were being treated in hospital in Rotterdam on Saturday after they were seriously injured when Dutch police fired shots during a violent protest against COVID-19 measures, authorities said, APA reports citing Reuters.
Crowds of several hundred rioters torched cars, set off fireworks and threw rocks at police during the protests on Friday evening. Police responded with warning shots and water canons.
Rotterdam police said on Twitter Saturday that 51 people had been arrested, half of whom were under 18.
"Two rioters where wounded when they were hit by bullets, they remain in hospital," police added.
The city's mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb, said the protest had turned into "an orgy of violence".
"Police were forced to draw their weapons and even fire direct shots," he told a press conference early on Saturday.
Dutch justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus said in a statement the "extreme violence" against police and fire fighters in Rotterdam was "repulsive".
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