Dutch police detain hundreds at climate protest / Photo: Ramon van Flymen - ANP/AFP
-
Three killed by storm in southern India
-
AI chip giant SK hynix posts seven-fold surge in quarterly operating profit
-
Two hundred 'Cruise for life' passengers stranded in Cambodia
-
S.African activists push back on data centre rush
-
Billionaire Ambani's Jio jumps 21% in market debut after record India IPO
-
Billionaire Ambani's Jio to debut after record India IPO
-
Sri Lanka's Tamil farmers fight to reclaim land after civil war
-
UK set for cautious budget as borrowing costs climb
-
'They don't care about us': Trump food aid cuts leave Americans struggling and angry
-
US Fed expected to hold rates steady ahead of key midterm elections
-
Palestinian activist Khalil returns to Columbia after US detention
-
AI chip giant SK hynix says quarterly operating profit soars 630%
-
Youths testify about 'despair' in unprecedented Canadian climate trial
-
Charles tackles thorny legacy of slavery on Caribbean trip
-
Storied Paris department store seeks bankruptcy protection
-
UN nuclear watchdog chief urges Iran to grant access
-
Boeing shares tumble after it releases cautious growth forecast
-
Boeing releases cautious growth plan as shares fall sharply
-
Boeing reports smaller loss as it aims for stable output growth
-
Tech firms gain on Anthropic IPO optimism; HSBC slumps in London
-
Dangote, Nigeria's oil tycoon rewriting Africa's story
-
Tech firms track Wall St rally on mixed day for stock markets
-
Kane says Ballon d'Or win 'feels like a dream' as tributes pour in
-
HSBC profit jumps on higher rates, lower costs
-
Mercedes-Benz cuts 2026 profit outlook on tough China market
-
Reparations calls follow Charles on tough Caribbean trip
Dutch police detain hundreds at climate protest
Dutch police on Saturday detained hundreds of climate activists and used two water cannons to break up a protest that blocked off a main highway into the city for several hours.
The protest by Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists followed several similar protests last year to demonstrate against Dutch fossil fuel subsidies and to highlight the effects of climate change.
"Some 700 activists were detained after the A12 highway was blocked off," The Hague police said on X.
"This led to traffic jams and longer travel times for ambulances and other emergency services," they added.
Police maintained a heavy presence with foot patrols, and on horseback, while a police drone hovered overhead.
Hundreds of protesters gathered around mid-day and walked onto the highway despite police attempts to stop several other activists, an AFP correspondent saw.
The protesters ignored a request from the city and police to remain on the Malieveld open ground in the city centre and not to enter onto the neighbouring arterial road.
Several hundred protesters carried banners and placards saying "We believe in life after oil" while waving XR flags however marched onto the road.
Two protesters also scaled a signboard beam spanning the A12 before unrolling an XR flag.
Several hours later police sprayed protesters with water cannons before detaining activists who were sitting on the main road.
Most were later released at a location near the ADO stadium on the city's outskirts, local news radio Omroep West reported.
Protester Christian Loncle, 49, said he believed "politicians are not doing enough yet" to fight climate change.
Referring to the current fires ravaging Los Angeles in California, Loncle said he was not a scientist to make a direct correlation between climate change and the blazes.
"But hopefully politicians are listening to us instead of waiting until their houses burn down."
Wildfires occur naturally, but scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather and changing the dynamics of the blazes.
Last year in April, climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained twice during a similar march to protest against fossil fuel subsidies.
D.Goldberg--CPN
