Six suspects arrested during the riots at and around Malieveld in The Hague will appear before the police judge on Wednesday, October 1. They are suspected of open violence against police officers, police vehicles, and/or police horses.
The suspects are six men from all over the country. They include a 35-year-old man from Zoetermeer, a 24-year-old man from Warmond, a 30-year-old man from Wormerveer, a 23-year-old man from Alkmaar, a 20-year-old man from Den Helder, and a 22-year-old man from Sneek.
The hearings will begin at 1:30 PM in the Hague court. Until then, the suspects will remain in custody; the examining magistrate decided that on Tuesday.
First Convictions
On Tuesday, September 23, fourteen suspects already appeared before the summary judge, having also been arrested during the riots. The Public Prosecution Service demanded prison sentences ranging from 5 weeks to 4 months. The judge has pronounced ten convictions: in some cases, prison sentences were imposed on suspects, in others community service combined with a conditional prison sentence. Most must also, as demanded by the Public Prosecution Service, pay an amount to the Fund for Victims of Violent Crimes. In two cases, acquittals were pronounced, and two cases were adjourned.
Acting Chief Public Prosecutor Frank van Dijk: In recent days, hard work has been done to bring the suspects arrested in the act before the judge as soon as possible. It is important for us to show that this violence is unacceptable. With a swift judicial ruling, we want to send a signal to society, but also to the police officers who were confronted with so much violence on Saturday.
Further Investigation
After the riots, a large investigation was immediately launched by the police under the direction of a public prosecutor. This is now focused on mapping the violence and identifying the perpetrators. The police were attacked, as were journalists, and later there was more violence in the city center against, among others, the party office of D66 and several hospitality entrepreneurs. It is also being examined whether there are individuals who may have orchestrated the violence.
The Public Prosecution Service expects to make more arrests later. The timeline for this is currently unknown.
