Ten defendants are on trial this week for their contribution to the riots at the Opera conference center in The Hague. The Public Prosecution Service demanded prison sentences ranging from 7 to 30 months, with some parts conditional.
Almost a year ago, on February 17, 2024, things went terribly wrong at the Opera conference center in The Hague. A private meeting organized by the Federation of Eritrean Communities was taking place there. A large group of opponents of this meeting did not want it to occur and headed to Fruitweg in The Hague. They attempted to violently break into the conference center, caused damage, threw stones at the police, and set several police vehicles and a tour bus on fire.
Reports
Dozens of police officers filed reports, as did 2 journalists who were threatened and hit by stones, a firefighter who had a stone thrown at his helmet while extinguishing a fire, and several other individuals who suffered damage due to the arson and destruction caused by the rioters. In total, 87 victims have submitted claims for damages.
Escalation
The violent actions of the defendants occurred after riot police attempted to disperse the rioters with charges towards the Parallelweg. However, all defendants returned to Fruitweg after the initial police charges and committed acts of violence in the vicinity of the conference center.
“Through their acts of violence, the defendants all contributed to the further escalation of the violence, including the arson of vehicles,” said the public prosecutor. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the arson of vehicles can be proven as open violence against all defendants.
Demands
For the four men who threw multiple stones at the police, the Public Prosecution Service demands 7 months of imprisonment, 2 months of which are conditional.
The three defendants who not only threw stones but also caused damage or threw objects onto the road face demands of 10 months imprisonment, 4 months of which are conditional.
For a 22-year-old man suspected of open violence and threatening a press photographer, the Public Prosecution Service demanded 12 months, 3 of which are conditional. He allegedly threatened the photographer with a stick.
A 26-year-old man, also suspected of open violence and of setting fire to a police bus parked against the facade of the conference center and throwing multiple stones at riot police, faces a demand of 30 months imprisonment, 6 of which are conditional.
On Monday and Tuesday, the pleadings of the lawyers will follow.
The case against a 25-year-old man suspected of setting a tour bus on fire has been postponed.
Previous Convictions
To date, with the defendants who stood trial today, 35 individuals have been prosecuted for these disturbances. In July, September, and November, the court imposed lengthy prison sentences on other defendants.