Police across the Netherlands faced what officers described as an unprecedented level of violence during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with fireworks and explosives thrown at emergency responders in several cities. Authorities reported widespread attacks on police and firefighters as they attempted to manage disturbances linked to fireworks.
In Amsterdam, a major fire broke out at the historic Vondelkerk church in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The 19th century neo-Gothic basilica, built in 1872 and overlooking the city’s Vondelpark, suffered severe damage. The church’s 50-metre-high tower collapsed, and the roof was badly affected, although officials said the main structure was expected to remain intact. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Dutch Police Union head Nine Kooiman said she was personally pelted with fireworks and explosives while on duty in Amsterdam, calling the scale of violence unprecedented. In the southern city of Breda, petrol bombs were reportedly thrown at police.
Fireworks-related incidents also proved deadly. A 17-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man died in separate incidents in the Netherlands. In Germany, police in Bielefeld said two 18-year-olds were killed after setting off homemade fireworks.
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