Prison sentence demanded for setting police car on fire at Malieveld

The Public Prosecution Service demands 18 months imprisonment, of which 6 months conditional, against a 33-year-old man from Raalte who set a police car on fire during the riots at Malieveld on September 20. According to the PPS, footage clearly shows the man throwing a piece of fireworks into the car.

Video footage made during the riots clearly shows the man lighting something next to the car, argued the public prosecutor today in court. He then throws the fireworks through the broken rear window into the car. Others also throw burning materials into the police car. It shortly after catches fire.

The suspect also sent a photo in the family group chat that afternoon - a selfie showing him in front of the burning police car. Set off a few of those bombs and threw them into that car, he apparently writes proudly. Thing immediately caught fire.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the man set a police vehicle on fire that day at Malieveld and committed open violence against it. This contributed clearly to the atmosphere of lawlessness, in which people incited each other to commit serious violence against police, journalists and bystanders, and to cause damage in the city. He should be sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, of which 6 months conditional. He should also pay the damage claimed by the police for the lost police car, amounting to 43,340 euros.

The judge will give a verdict in two weeks.

New arrests

The investigation into the riots on and around Malieveld on September 20, 2025 is still ongoing. On Tuesday, January 13, another suspect was arrested. He is a 27-year-old man from The Hague. He will be summoned for a police court hearing on February 5. The Public Prosecution Service suspects him of open violence against police officers and vehicles, including a discriminatory aspect related to giving the Hitler salute.

In recent months, the police have reviewed hundreds of hours of footage and tried to identify suspects. The Public Prosecution Service expects more arrests in the coming weeks. Also, new footage of the riots will be shown in crime investigation programs over the next three weeks to ask the public for help in identifying rioters.

25 suspects before the court

The Public Prosecution Service has brought 25 suspects before the court for their involvement in the riots. Eighteen of them have been convicted. Some suspects received community service. In most cases, the judge sentenced to weeks or months of imprisonment, sometimes partly conditional, often combined with community service. Most suspects must also, as demanded by the PPS, transfer an amount to the Victim Compensation Fund for violent crimes to compensate for the damage caused.

In one case, the Public Prosecution Service requested acquittal of the suspect. In three other cases, a suspect was acquitted. Two cases were adjourned for further investigation and will be dealt with later in court.

Large-scale riots

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, a group of over a thousand people chose to fight the police around a demonstration. Stones were thrown, fires were set, and damage was caused. Most violence was directly aimed at the police, but after hours of unrest, a group of rioters moved into the city center, causing damage there as well.

The Hague had not seen such severe riots in years. The police had to deploy four platoons of riot police, two water cannons, mounted police and tear gas grenades. Only through the use of tear gas could the use of firearms by officers be prevented. The safety of peaceful protesters could no longer be guaranteed, forcing the demonstration to be ended.