Dutch police have arrested 45 Extinction Rebellion activists after a protest blocked the A12 motorway in The Hague on Saturday afternoon. Most of those detained were later released on the city’s outskirts, but one man remains in custody for allegedly assaulting an officer. Police said the suspect refused to cooperate during his arrest and bit an officer on the arm.
Dozens of climate protesters gathered on the highway at around noon, cutting off access to the roadway from the city centre. The Mayor of The Hague ordered the police to clear the area at 12.15 pm. Officers removed the remaining demonstrators from the road by 2 pm, allowing traffic to resume.
Extinction Rebellion said the demonstration was a response to ongoing drought in the Netherlands and severe wildfires across France, Spain, and Limburg. In a statement, the group called on the government to take immediate action and demanded an instant end to the burning of fossil fuels.
@ANP | NEWS BRAINPORT
