Two wounded as Dutch police fire shots at protest over new COVID-19 restrictions

Two wounded as Dutch police fire shots at protest over new COVID-19 restrictions
# 20 November 2021 02:51 (UTC +04:00)

Crowds of rioters torched cars and threw rocks at police who responded with shots and water canon, as protests against COVID-19 measures turned violent in the port city of Rotterdam on Friday night, APA reports quoting Reuters.

"We fired warning shots and there were also direct shots fired because the situation was life-threatening," police spokesperson Patricia Wessels told Reuters.

"We know that at least two people were wounded, probably as a result of the warning shots, but we need to investigate the exact causes further," she said.

Several hundred people had gathered to voice opposition to government plans to restrict access to indoor venues to people who have a "corona pass", showing they have been vaccinated or already recovered from an infection.

The pass is also available to people who have not been vaccinated, but have proof of a negative test.

Police issued an emergency ordinance in Rotterdam, shutting down public transportation and ordering people to go home. Water canon were deployed and police on horseback carried out charges to disperse the crowds, police said.

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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED