On Friday, suspects involved in the May 1 riots in Scheveningen appeared before the juvenile court again. The Public Prosecution Service demanded community service sentences, which the juvenile court imposed on three of them. The fourth was acquitted.
The suspects are four boys aged 15, 16, and 18 from The Hague and a 17-year-old from Rotterdam. They were present at the May 1 riots and threw stones, bottles, and/or traffic signs at the police. A large group of youths turned against the police that evening. Violence was committed against the police, and damage was also caused in the seaside resort.
Peer pressure or not, at such a moment you have only one thing to do: leave, the public prosecutor told the suspects. By staying, you ensure that others also stay. And by throwing objects, you incite the rest of the group to do the same.
The Public Prosecution Service demanded 60 hours of community service. The juvenile court immediately issued a verdict and sentenced three suspects to 40 hours of community service. The 16-year-old suspect was acquitted.
Status of the investigation
Nineteen suspects have been arrested so far in the investigation into the riots in Scheveningen. Fourteen of them have already appeared in court. Two suspects have been acquitted; the others have been sentenced to community service ranging from 40 to 80 hours. Some of them must also pay compensation between 150 and 250 euros to officers.
On November 10, four more suspects will appear in court, and a court date still needs to be set for one suspect. Further investigations are ongoing, and suspects have recently been shown again in criminal investigation programs to identify them.
