Violence has erupted between two groups of “migrants” in the Hague, who attacked police with bricks and set alight their cars.
Footage from the scene shows vehicles in flames and men chucking rocks outside the Opera conference hall along Fruitweg, in the Netherlands.
“It got seriously out of hand,” The Hague municipality spokesman Robin Middel said.
Supporters of the Eritrean government were holding a meeting when the venue got attacked by Eritreans who strongly oppose it.
Violence has erupted between two groups of “migrants” in the Hague
Reuters/Getty
Police quickly rushed to the scene to tame the chaos, which saw the opera building being left with smashed windows.
In order to disperse the rival groups of Eritreans and stop them from fighting, officers used tear gas.
The streets were covered with shards of glass and officers kitted up in riot gear dealt with a dire inside the building. They removed what appeared to be a fuel canister from the hall.
At least four police officers were hurt during a violent riot, with two sustaining injuries to their hands, the third to their teeth, and the fourth being hit by a police car.
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Supporters of the Eritrean government were holding a meeting when the venue got attacked by Eritreans who strongly oppose it
Reuters
“Out of nowhere, our colleagues were confronted with very intense and serious violence,” said police commander Marielle van Vulpen.
Jan van Zan, the city’s mayor said: “The violence used against police officers and equipment is appalling and unacceptable.”
Police Unit The Hague posted on social media: “At Fruitweg in DenHaag a confrontation between two groups of Eritreans resulted in a fight.
“Stones were thrown. We act with the riot police, among others, to restore public order.”
In order to disperse the rival groups of Eritreans and stop them from fighting, officers used tear gas
Getty
Police officers take security measures after vehicles were burned at the Opera hall center
Getty
The clash is the latest in a series of fights between Eritreans in Europe. Last September, at least 26 police officers were injured during unrest at an Eritrean cultural festival in Stuttgart.
Months earlier, 22 police officers were injured in a vicious confrontation at another Eritrean festival in western Germany.
Tens of thousands of Eritreans have fled their home country for Europe, claiming that they have been mistreated by their government.
Eritreans living abroad are divided between those who remain close to President Isaias Afwerki’s government, and those who are against it.
