DutchNews.nl - Project X Haren damage still being assessed, more arrests expected

It may be two more weeks before the full extent of the damage caused by rampaging youths in the commuter town of Haren near Groningen has been calculated, according to media reports on Monday.

So far 35 people have been arrested after the Project X Haren viral party generated into a riot as a ‘small group of youths’ went on the rampage on Friday evening.

Police expect more people to report damage to their property on Monday – at least 25 people have already done so, Nos television said.

Several thousand youngsters turned up in the village of 18,000 people on Friday evening after a girl’s 16th birthday party, announced on Facebook, went viral and became a mass hype.

The smart Groningen commuter suburb was left littered with bottles and cans, cars were set on fire and a local supermarket plundered by the mob.

Police are now collecting film and video material in an effort to identify other troublemakers.

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten told Nos radio the riots were ‘completely unacceptable’ and that the troublemakers should be made to pay for the damage.

Meanwhile, Germany's consumer affairs minister Ilse Aigne has said she thinks Facebook itself is partly responsible for the trouble. She wants the social media company to change its privacy settings to stop private invitations going public.

Germany has had at least two viral party incidents. In June, 22,500 people attended a 'Facebookparty' in Backnang, while a similar gathering took place in Konstanz in July, Nos said.

How could the trouble have been prevented? Have your say using the comment box below

Readers' Comments

Not that I'm condoning the actions of the crowd (flippin' hooligans) but Haren could have saved itself a lot of trouble (and $ in the long run) if it had simply shelled out some cash for a DJ and a light show in a big parking lot. When a rabid dog arrives at your door, it's better to toss it a chew toy than let the pooch tear apart your front yard.

By B | 24 September 2012 10:06 AM

Hi,
Project X Haren damage still being assessed, more arrests expected. Legally “Facebook” is liable (aansprakelijk). Your government should examine this.

By Terence Hale | 24 September 2012 10:20 AM

In the movie Project X, there were music, booze, drugs, sex and rock and roll...in Haren, only stupid drunken rampage and stealing from supermarkets - losers!

By agentx | 24 September 2012 2:22 PM

I think the fault lies entirely with the minority or revelers that were nothing more than the typical hooligans looking for an excuse to get on fights.

Facebook, let alone the poor girl, are not to blame at all. They didn't invite the masses (anyone with more than 3 neurons would realize that was a private party), the party was actually pulled over and the so-called "Project X" was more an unrelated crazy idea started by others (not by the girl).

By Andre L. | 24 September 2012 2:54 PM

Well said "B".

By Party gal | 24 September 2012 5:01 PM

I think facebook should be strictly monitored by the people who run it.And this kind of thing should not be allowed on there.

By John Vanda | 25 September 2012 3:47 AM

I don't recall our generation being so stupid (I am 30 now). If I ever hear anywhere 'waar is de feestje, hier is de feestje' again (the well-known 'funny' chant of the youth), I will hang myself...

By Hollander | 25 September 2012 6:24 AM

How idiotic must one be to know about this event well in advance and still be incapable of preventing the damages?! Dutch police knew well in advance that thousands of youngsters will show up in Haren, yet they didn't do anything to prevent the chaos. Would have been so difficult to mobilize a few hundred policemen including riot police and place them in the hot areas in Haren?

By Frustratu | 25 September 2012 10:07 AM