Attaque d’un centre culturel kurde à Amsterdam – 25 octobre 2011

Fears For Violence After Turkish Rioters Attack Kurdish Centre

rudaw.net

26/10/2011

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands — A group of Turkish protesters stormed a Kurdish cultural center in Amsterdam on Sunday during a rally against a Kurdish rebel attack on the military in eastern Turkey killed 24 Turkish soldiers.

The incident and other clashes raised fears of growing violence between Kurds and Turks in the Netherlands. In addition to the violent protest, which drew several hundred Turks, a Turkish mosque in Arnhem, near the German border, was set alight. Pro-graffiti Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) grafitti was sprayed on the walls of the mosque and the head of a Kurdish centre in Arnhem has received threats in Turkish.

The Dutch police are now investigating the incidents including an alleged shooting that took place during the riot on Sunday.

Dutch authorities reported that around 80 protesters tried to storm the Kurdish cultural center, throwing stones at the building and scuffling with police.

Police fired teargas in the building and detained all of the protesters for several hours to investigate the possible use of firearms before releasing everyone. Several protesters and policemen were injured.

Police blocked roads leading to the protest site for fear of further escalation. Read more …