The Covid mandate protests in Europe have moved up a rank, if that is the way to think about it, with police shooting at least two people. This is from “warning shots.” Well, if that is “warning shots,” imagine what it will be like when the police state gets really serious! What ever happened to retreating, as the US police did so well in the 2020 riots?
“Police have said at least two people may have been shot as a result of officers firing warning shots during violent protests in Rotterdam on Friday evening, as demonstrations against the Dutch government’s decision to enact another coronavirus lockdown descended into chaotic riots.
Several people were injured in the riots in Rotterdam on Friday, including police officers, who were pelted with stones and fireworks. Police, in turn, deployed water cannons and fired “warning shots” which they say may have injured at least two people.
“We fired warning shots and there were also direct shots fired because the situation was life-threatening,” police spokeswoman Patricia Wessels said per The Times.
“We know that at least two people were wounded, probably as a result of the warning shots, but we need to investigate the exact causes further.”
According to a police statement, the demonstration started with around 100 people gathering at 8 pm on the Coolsingel, one of the Dutch city’s most famed streets. However, the demonstration soon swelled to hundreds.
After turning violent, with protesters setting fires to cars — including at least one police car — as well as public infrastructure, the police issued orders for people to leave the city centre, announcing through loudspeakers, “Violence will be used or people will be arrested” if they failed to leave, the local NRC reported.
Rotterdam Police said that at times the situation was so “dangerous and threatening” that police felt the need to fire warning shots.”