- Violent protests were seen all over the country.
- Demonstrators took to the streets after new restrictions.
- Some places introduced partial lockdown.
- Vienna makes immunization mandatory.
- Protestors waved national flags.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Brussels, Belgium’s capital, to protest anti-Covid legislation as reported by BBC.
Violent protests
Some protesters threw fireworks at police officers, who intervened with tear gas and water cannon.
This comes after fresh protests in the Netherlands against new lockdown rules.
On Saturday, people hurled fireworks at police and set fire to bicycles in The Hague, one night after protests in Rotterdam turned violent and police fired gunshots.
There are also plans to make vaccinations for health workers compulsory.
“Covid-19 has become once again the number one cause of mortality in our region,” he said, adding “we know what needs to be done” in order to fight the virus – such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and using Covid passes.
A number of countries have recently reported record-high daily case numbers.
Unrest all over
On Saturday, riots erupted in various towns and cities across the Netherlands for the second night.
In The Hague, hooded protesters set fire to bicycles while riot police used horses, dogs, and batons to disperse the crowds. Officials declared a state of emergency in the city, and at least seven people were detained.
A rock was hurled through the window of an ambulance carrying a patient, according to police. Five police officers were injured, according to city cops, with one being taken away by ambulance with a knee injury.
The turmoil came after a night of riots in Rotterdam, which the mayor of the city described as “an orgy of violence.” A police official told Reuters that cops fired warning and direct shots “because the situation was life-threatening.”
An investigation has been begun by the authorities.
Netherlands
After a record number of Covid cases, the Netherlands enforced a three-week partial lockdown last weekend. Crowds are prohibited at sporting events, and bars and restaurants must close at 20:00.
After the government announced a new national lockdown and plans to make vaccinations mandatory in February 2022, tens of thousands of people protested in Vienna, Austria’s capital. It is the first country in Europe to make immunisation mandatory.
Protesters waved national flags and waved “Freedom” banners as they chanted “Resistance!” and booed the cops.
From Monday, the country will go into a 20-day nationwide lockdown, with all but necessary stores closed and individuals forced to work from home.
Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, described mandated vaccines as a “double-edged sword.”
Rome
Thousands marched in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, to protest forced vaccinations for public employees, while a few thousand protestors assembled in Rome’s ancient Circus Maximus chariot-racing field to oppose “Green Pass” credentials required at workplaces, venues, and public transportation.
France
French authorities are sending dozens more police officers to Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean, to suppress protests.
After violent protests over France’s own Covid pass became violent, looters ransacked dozens of stores and set buildings on fire overnight.
Gérald Darmanin, the Interior Minister, claimed that some protesters used “live ammunition” against law enforcement and threatened a “strong” response to those who cause public disruption.
Germany
In light of the increased number of cases in Germany, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid has stated that there are no plans to amend travel prohibitions between the two countries at this time.
He explained that this was due to Germany’s experience with the Delta variant: “We already have Delta here, so I’m not sure there’s much value in having extra regulations,” he told Andrew Marr. “However, we do keep an eye out for any prospective new variants.”
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Source: BBC
