In Rotterdam, the police arrested 35 rioters. Seven of them were arrested at Central Station because they threw heavy fireworks at bystanders and passers-by. There were also arrests because people refused to identify themselves and for insults. Elsewhere in the city, on the Coolsingel, a police officer suffered hearing damage after a fireworks bomb was detonated.
The other arrests were made ‘spread across the evening and city’. “After Morocco’s victory, a large number of supporters celebrated. The vast majority of people behaved properly,” the police emphasized on Twitter.
It was busy on Hofplein, Kruisplein and West-Kruiskade in the center of the city. The riot police had to perform on the Kruisplein.
Fireworks to emergency responders
In The Hague, ten people have been arrested ‘for the time being’ for public violence and possession of heavy fireworks. There, in the Schilderswijk, the riot police also threatened to intervene tonight. Hundreds of revelers took to the streets after Morocco’s victory. Initially there was a festive mood, but that changed after a while. On the Vaillantlaan, the police were pelted with fireworks.
Ten people were arrested in Amsterdam, the police report. More arrests are not ruled out. One of the arrests was for throwing fireworks at aid workers. Earlier in the evening, the Mercatorplein in Amsterdam was evacuated. “Violence against aid workers and allies is unacceptable. We take strict action against this. We remain alert to rioters who ruin the atmosphere,” said the police.
Some shops around the Mercatorplein had closed their doors earlier because of the competition. Around 5.30 pm there were also so-called neighborhood fathers on the square in fluorescent vests.
Tears
Some supporters were delirious with joy, others shed tears, as we saw at the football talk show Mocro Inside, which was recorded in Gorinchem:
Fans of the Moroccan football team also took to the streets in the center of Breda. In Amersfoort, the De Stier roundabout was closed off. Previously, fans celebrated Morocco’s victory here. Revelers had gathered a little further this time. RTV Utrecht reports that there was also a party in the Lombok district of Utrecht. Many fireworks were heard in the city.
