What was meant to be a peaceful protest against the newly introduced Covid-19 measures, spiralled into violent protests on Friday night in Holland. 

Disturbing scenes showed crowds of rioters in the Port City of Rotterdam torching cars and throwing rocks at Police, who responded with shots, water canons and tear gas. Police say more than twenty people are in their custody. 

“We fired warning shots and there were also direct shots fired because the situation was life-threatening,” said Police Scribe, Patricia Wessels. 

“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.

There were quite a number of unreported casualties, according to some social media users. There were also a yet to be verified circulated image of someone they said had been shot by Police, but the Police authorities said although they had seen the footage, they did not yet know how the man was wounded.

Hundred of people had gathered to protest Government's plans to restrict access to indoor venues to people who have a “Corona pass”, showing they have been vaccinated or have already recovered from an infection.

According to Government, this pass is also available to people who although have not been vaccinated, but have proof of a negative test, within a certain time frame.

The Netherland Police have consequently issued an emergency ordinance in Rotterdam, shutting down public transportation and ordering people to go home. Water canons were deployed and Police on Horseback carried out charges to disperse the crowds, according to eye witnesses. 

The Police authorities also called on bystanders and eye witnesses who posess images or video recordings of the riots, to send same to Police for further investigation.

Although the Netherlands re-imposed some stricter lockdown measures last weekend for an initial three weeks in an effort to checkmate a surge in coronavirus infection, Reuters reports states that daily infections have remained at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic in the first instance. 

The Police authorities have also been accused of being high handed and unnecessarily aggressive while quelling the protests. There are unconfirmed reports that splinter groups are mobilising at other areas to join in the protests today. 

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