130 arrests in Utrecht disturbances

Wednesday 14 March 2007

At least 130 people have been arrested after a second night of disturbances in Utrecht, both in the city centre and fringes of the neighbourhood Ondiep. Police said the arrests included a number of football supporters from FC Utrecht, Feyenoord and Amsterdam Ajax who had come to the city looking for trouble.

Police sealed off Ondiep in an effort to avoid further incidents. Two people were arrested in the neighbourhood on Monday night when youths went on the rampage after a 54-year-old man was shot dead by police. A community centre was set on fire and destroyed during the disturbances.

On Tuesday night gangs of youths gathered in various places around Ondiep. In one incident, stones and bottles were thrown at the police, in another fires were set. The situation in Utrecht had normalised by around midnight, NOS tv reported.

In Ondiep itself there were 60 arrests, mainly for breaking the ban on forming groups in public places, NOS said.

Ondiep is a largely white, working-class neighbourhood and is the focus of the city council's urban renewal efforts.

© DutchNews.nl

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