Nearly 2,000 environmental activists arrested in Netherlands

THE HAGUE, Netherlands

Police in the Netherlands have detained nearly 2,000 protesting environmental activists for a roadblock in the Hague.

Under the banner of the environmentalist group "Extinction Rebellion," thousands of protesters gathered to demand an end to the use of fossil fuels.

Climate activists blocked the final stretch of the A12 main road, which serves as the city's entrance, causing traffic disruptions on connecting routes.

The demonstrators staged a sit-in protest, brandishing banners with slogans such as "Time is up, stop fossil fuel subsidies," "The system must change, not the climate," and "The fossil lobby is a criminal organization, we are the people."

The protesters vowed to maintain their blockade of the A12 main road to the Dutch parliament in the Hague on a daily basis until the government terminates the use of fossil fuel subsidies.

"We initiated this protest with just 30 participants, and now thousands of people are joining us. There is widespread support across the nation for our demand from the government," Environmental activist Guus Dix told Anadolu.

"Today does not mark the end. We pledged that if detained, we would return at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow. Should further detentions occur, we will return the following day," Dix said.

"We will continue to block the road every day until our demands are met," he said.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz