Europe descended into a second night of violent carnage on Saturday amid the return of strict lockdown rules aimed at curbing rising rates of Covid infection.
Thousands of people took to Amsterdam's central Dam Square and the Hague on Saturday, a day after the 'orgy of violence' during the Rotterdam riots that saw seven people injured. Police said seven arrests were made on Sunday after youths set streets ablaze and shot fireworks at officers.
Video footage from the Hague showed motorists sounding their horns in support as a trio of small explosions could be clearly seen on the main road in the background. Elsewhere, protestors were pictured ripping down street signs in chaotic scenes.
Anti-riot police were forced to clear the wreckage of smouldering scooters and burnt-out bicycles that were torched by the anti-vax mob and left to block roads in one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the country since Covid restrictions were first implemented.
Meanwhile, similar demonstrations against virus restrictions also took place in Switzerland, Croatia, Italy, Northern Ireland, Austria and North Macedonia on Saturday, a day after Dutch police opened fire on protesters and seven people were injured in rioting that erupted in Rotterdam.
It comes as violence broke out in Vienna on Saturday as 10,000 protesters - many from far-right groups - took to the streets to demonstrate against new Covid-19 restrictions and mandatory vaccinations.
Police were pictured arresting two protesters. A spokesman said there had been fewer than 10 arrests, for breaches of coronavirus restrictions and the ban on Nazi symbols. Some protestors mockingly wore doctor's scrubs, while others donned tinfoil hats.
Chanting 'resistance!', waving Austrian flags and blowing whistles, the crowd swelled to more than 30,000. Many held signs mocking government leaders including Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein.
Protesters rallied against coronavirus restrictions and mandatory COVID-19 passes needed in many European countries to enter restaurants, Christmas markets or sports events, as well as mandatory vaccinations.
In Italy, 3,000 turned out in the capital's Circus Maximus, a field where in ancient times Romans staged popular entertainment, to protest against 'Green Pass' certificates required at workplaces, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, sports venues and gyms, as well as for long-distance train, bus or ferry travel within Italy.
In Northern Ireland, several hundred people opposed to vaccine passports protested outside the city hall in Belfast, where the city's Christmas market opened Saturday - a market where proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test was required.
The Northern Ireland government voted this week to introduce vaccine certificates for admission to nightclubs, bars and restaurants starting Dec. 13.
'People like us never give up,' read one banner, in the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag. Virtually no one at the Rome protest wore a protective mask.
Switzerland saw 2,000 people protest an upcoming referendum on whether to approve the government's COVID-19 restrictions law, claiming it was discriminatory, public broadcaster SRF reported.
In Croatia, thousands gathered at in the capital Zagreb, carrying Croatian flags, nationalist and religious symbols, along with banners against vaccination and what they describe as restrictions of people's freedoms.
And in Denmark, more than one thousand gathered outside the Danish parliament in Copenhagen to push back against the reintroduction of the national health pass.
North Macedonia also saw hundreds of anti-vaccination protesters march in downtown Skopje on Satruday evening against the country's health authority's recommendation of mandatory vaccinations.
Demonstrations against virus measures are also expected in other European countries - the latest in rising anger at the re-introduction of restrictions amid soaring cases on the continent.
This comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was 'very worried' about the spread of Covid-19 within Europe as the continent battles a fresh wave of infections.
Regional director Dr Hans Kluge told the BBC that some 500,000 more deaths could be recorded by March unless urgent action is taken.
THE NETHERLANDS: A day after Rotterdam rioting that saw seven people injured, thousands more took to Amsterdam's central Dam Square and The Hague (pictured above), with seven arrests being made according to police
THE NETHERLANDS: Riot police were forced to clear the wreckage of smouldering scooters and burnt-out bicycles (left) that were set ablaze by the anti-vax mob and left to block roads
Anti-riot police used batons to restrain protestors including this man, above, who was hit on the leg and collapsed to the floor
AUSTRIA: Protesters carrying a banner reading 'Control the border. Not your people' at the anti-lockdown demonstration held by the far-right Freedom Party in Vienna today
THE NETHERLANDS: A scooter set on fire during a protest against the 2G policy in Coolsingel, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 19 November 2021. Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered to protest against the tightened coronavirus measures
ITALY: Demonstrators listen to speakers and show their mobile phones during a protest against restrictions for the unvaccinated, at Rome Circus Maximus, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021
DENMARK: A man waves the national flag of Denmark in front of the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen as more than a thousand people gathered to protest the reintroduction of the national health pass
NORTHERN IRELAND: Demonstrators take part in a protest against Covid certification in Belfast city centre. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday November 20, 2021
CROATIA: Demonstrators march in the centre of Zagreb to protest against Covid-19 measures such as obligatory certificates for public sector on November 20, 2021
SWITZERLAND: Demonstrators protest against a planned coronavirus disease (COVID-19) law of the Swiss government, in Zurich, Switzerland November 20, 2021
ROMANIA: Activists armed with banners march during a protest against vaccinations, the introduction of the controversial health pass, and Covid lockdown-style measures in Bucharest, Romania on Sunday, November 7
NORTH MACEDONIA: People protest through downtown Skopje, North Macedonia, on Saturday, November 20, 2021
Five police officers were injured during rioting at the Hague, with one taken to hospital suffering concussion and two suffering hearing damage from loud fireworks,.
A rock thrown by rioters also smashed the window of a passing ambulance carrying a patient, the city's police force said.
Elsewhere in the Netherlands, two football matches in the Eredivise, the top professional league, were briefly halted after fans - banned from matches under a partial lockdown in force in the Netherlands for a week - broke into stadiums in the towns of Alkmaar and Almelo.
Earlier Saturday, two protests against COVID-19 measures went off peacefully in Amsterdam and the southern city of Breda.
Police said in a tweet that seven people were arrested in The Hague and five officers were injured. One needed treatment in a hospital. Local media reported that rioters threw bicycles, wooden pallets and motorized scooters on one of the fires.
The chaos in The Hague was on a smaller scale than the pitched battles on the streets of Rotterdam on Friday night, when police said that three rioters were hit by bullets and investigations were underway to establish if they were shot by police.
Officers in Rotterdam arrested 51 people, about half of them minors, police said Saturday afternoon. One police officer was hospitalized with a leg injury sustained in the rioting, another was treated by ambulance staff and 'countless' others suffered minor injuries.
Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told reporters in the early hours of Saturday morning that 'on a number of occasions the police felt it necessary to draw their weapons to defend themselves' as rioters rampaged through the port city's central shopping district, setting fires and throwing rocks and fireworks at officers.
'They shot at protesters, people were injured,' Aboutaleb said. He did not have details on the injuries. Police also fired warning shots.
Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus condemned the events. 'The riots and extreme violence against police officers, riot police and firefighters last night in Rotterdam are disgusting to see,' he said in a statement.
'Protesting is a great right in our society, but what we saw last night is simply criminal behavior. It has nothing to do with demonstrating,' he added.
An independent investigation into the shootings by police was opened, as is the case whenever Dutch police use their weapons.
As the march kicked off on Vienna's Heldenplatz, thousands of protesters gathered on the massive square. About 1,300 police officers were on duty. They used loudspeakers to tell protesters masks were required, but most did not wear them.
Chanting 'resistance!' and blowing whistles, protesters began to move slowly down the city's inner ring road. Many waved Austrian flags and carried signs mocking government leaders like Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mueckstein.
Some wore doctor's scrubs; others donned tinfoil hats. Most of the signs focused on the newly announced vaccine mandate: 'My Body, My Choice,' read one. 'We're Standing Up for Our Kids!' said another.
By mid-afternoon the crowds had swelled to roughly 35,000 people, according to the police, and were marching down Vienna's inner ring road before heading back towards the Hofburg.
Police were pictured arresting two protesters. A spokesman said there had been fewer than 10 arrests, for breaches of coronavirus restrictions and the ban on Nazi symbols.
Meanwhile, a few hundred protesters gathered in Amsterdam today and a similar number marched through the southern city of Breda over the latest Covid-19 measures.
Riots also erupted in the central 'Bible Belt' town of Urk and cities in southern Limburg province, while angry fans disrupted two football matches being played behind closed doors because of coronavirus rules, Dutch media said.
It comes after violent riots last night in which 51 were arrested in Rotterdam after thousands of anti-lockdown protesters gathered on one of the city's main shopping streets.
Dutch police fired water canons, 'warning shots' and bullets at protesters to disperse the crowd who had lit fires and set off fireworks. Police confirmed seven injuries, including officers, in the violence but did not say if live ammunition or rubber bullets were fired.
The Netherlands re-imposed some lockdown measures last weekend for an initial three weeks in an effort to slow a resurgence of coronavirus contagion, but daily infections have remained at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic.
The Dutch government has said it wants to introduce a law that would allow businesses to restrict the country's coronavirus pass system to only people who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 - that would exclude people who test negative.
The violent scenes in Rotterdam mirrored much of the continent's reaction to similar schemes announced by Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia - with Italy and Greece also reportedly considering moves to restrict the movements of unvaccinated people.
AUSTRIA: Anti-lockdown protestors hold lit torches and banners reading: 'Hands off our children' as they continue their protests against Covid-19 restrictions on Sunday, November 20
AUSTRIA: Police officers arrest a protester during a demonstration against new Covid-19 restrictions, including a lockdown from Monday and mandatory vaccines from February 1, announced by the Austria government yesterday
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators light flares during a rally held by Austria's far-right Freedom Party in Vienna today as governments across Europe impose Covid-19 restrictions amid soaring cases
AUSTRIA: Violence today broke out in Vienna as 10,000 protesters took to the streets and lit flares to demonstrate against a new Covid-19 lockdown and mandatory vaccinations
AUSTRIA: Riot police stand in a circle as they prepare for potential violence in Vienna hours after an estimated 35,000 protesters gathered in the Austrian capital to protests Covid-19 restrictions
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators pass the State Opera during a rally held by Austria's far-right Freedom Party in Vienna on Saturday
AUSTRIA: A protester wears a respirator mask during a demonstration against the measures of the Austrian government to slow surging Covid-19 cases
AUSTRIA: A protester, with a sign reading 'No Covid vaccine', joins thousands of people demonstrating in Vienna against Austria's new Covid restrictions which are set to come into force on Monday
AUSTRIA: Thousands of residents - one holding a sign reading 'no to mandatory vaccination' - today gathered in Vienna to demonstrate against new Covid restrictions amid soaring infection rates across the continent
DENMARK: Demonstrators in balaclavas hold torches and lit flares as they march during a 'Men in Black' protest against new government restrictions in Copenhagen
THE NETHERLANDS: At least one person was shot and six more injured in Rotterdam last night as Dutch riot police opened fire on protesters in an 'orgy of violence'
THE NETHERLANDS: An ambulance drives past bicycles and scooters that were set ablaze by a mob as riots erupt in The Hague over new controversial Covid restrictions
THE NETHERLANDS: Rioters set police vehicles ablaze as anti-lockdown protests turned to riots in Coolsingel street, Rotterdam, on Friday evening
THE NETHERLANDS: Piles of burned bikes lay strewn across the streets of Rotterdam on Saturday morning following anti-lockdown protests after the government announced its 2G policy, restricted unvaccinated people's access to certain venues
THE NETHERLANDS: Police manhandle a protester as anti-lockdown demonstrations in Coolsingel Street in Rotterdam turned violent yesterday evening
DENMARK: A protestor addresses the crowd at the 'Men in Black' demonstration against new Government-led Covid restrictions in Copenhagen on Saturday, Nov 20
DENMARK: Masked members of the 'Men in Black' demonstrations harass a group of customers enjoying an evening meal in Copenhagen as the group protests the reintroduction of the green pass in the country
ITALY: : People protest during a demonstration organized by No Green Pass and No Vax movements against the Green Pass Covid-19 health certificate, at Circo Massimo, on November 20, 2021 in Rome
CROATIA: A man burns a flag during a protest against vaccination and coronavirus measures in Zagreb, Saturday
The above graph shows the Covid infection rate per million people for western European countries from November last year. It reveals that Slovakia has the highest infection rate in the region, followed closely by Austria
Austrians are protesting against a new national lockdown and mandatory vaccinations, which the government said yesterday would be rolled out on February 1.
Vaccinations in Austria have plateaued at one of the lowest rates in Western Europe - under 66 per cent - and hospitals in heavily hit states have warned that their intensive care units are reaching capacity.
Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said yesterday the country would go in lockdown for 10 days.
The shutdown will then reevaluated and could be extended for a further 10 days.
Most stores will close, and cultural events will be canceled.
People will be able to leave their homes only for certain specific reasons, including buying groceries, going to the doctor or exercising.
Average daily deaths have tripled in recent weeks and its infections are among the highest in Europe, with a seven-day incidence of 991 per 100,000 people.
'We have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated,' Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told a news conference.
'It hurts that such measures still have to be taken.'
Schallenberg also apologised to all vaccinated people on Friday night saying it was not fair they had to suffer under the renewed lockdown restrictions when they had done everything to help contain the virus.
'I'm sorry to take this drastic step,' he said on public broadcaster ORF.
Despite the violence a day earlier, around 300 protesters marched through the southern Dutch town of Breda near the Belgian border on Saturday carrying banners with slogans such as 'No Lockdown'.
Organisers said they opposed Prime Minister Mark Rutte's plans to exclude the unvaccinated from bars and restaurants.
A group that had called an Amsterdam protest for Saturday, United We Stand Europe, said on Facebook it had cancelled the rally because 'last night, all hell broke loose in Rotterdam'.
But several hundred flag-waving protesters still gathered in central Dam Square, watched over by police vans, according to Dutch media and images on social media.
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators wave the flag of the Austrian far-right Freedom Party during a rally against a new national lockdown and mandatory vaccinations in Vienna today
AUSTRIA: People burn smoke bombs as they take part in a demonstration against the country's coronavirus restrictions in Vienna today
AUSTRIA: Protestors with a banner 'Control the borders' attend a demonstration against measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic in Vienna today
AUSTRIA: A demonstrator shouts during a protest against measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic in Vienna on Saturday
AUSTRIA: A demonstrator lets off a blue smoke bomb during a Vienna rally against new Covid-19 restrictions announced by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators shout slogans and light flares during a demonstration against measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic in Vienna
AUSTRIA: Saturday's demonstration in Vienna is the latest in rising anger at the re-introduction of restrictions amid soaring cases on the continent
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators on top of a building near Maria Theresien Platz square in Vienna light flares as they protest new Covid-19 restrictions announced by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg yesterday
AUSTRIA: demonstrator in Vienna holds a placard asking 'European friends' to 'help us' after the Austria government yesterday announced the country would go back into lockdown from Monday
AUSTRIA: People take part in a demonstration against the country's coronavirus restrictions in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday afternoon
AUSTRIA: People carrying the flag of the far-right Freedom party walk past the parliament as they take part in a demonstration against the country's coronavirus restrictions in Vienna
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators light flares during a rally held by Austria's far-right Freedom Party against Covid restrictions after Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced the country would go back into lockdown from Monday
AUSTRIA: Thousands of people turned out to protest in the Austrian capital, Vienna, today after the government announced vaccinations would be mandatory from February 1
AUSTRIA: A man wearing a hazmat suit and carrying a cucumber with the slogan 'Mobile PCR tester' attends a protest against new Covid-19 measures in Vienna today
AUSTRIA: Police walk in front of a demonstration march through the capital, Vienna, today as thousands gather to protest against new Covid-19 restrictions
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators climb on a fence in central Vienna, Austria, to gain a better vantage point over protests over new restrictions today
AUSTRIA: Police officers detain a man during a demonstration on Vienna's Heldenplatz in which thousands of protesters gathered on the massive square. They used loudspeakers to tell protesters masks were required, but most did not wear them
AUSTRIA: Demonstrators hold up banners and placards during a rally held by Austria's far-right Freedom Party against the government's latest Covid-19 measures in Vienna today
AUSTRIA: Thousands of people today took part in a demonstration in Vienna against the country's Covid-19 restrictions after the government said yesterday Austria would go back into lockdown from Monday and make vaccinations mandatory
THE NETHERLANDS: Protesters light candles ahead of a moment of silence during an anti-lockdown protest in Amsterdam today
THE NETHERLANDS: A protester holds a sign reading 'the truth becomes clear when we unwire fear' during a protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Amsterdam on Saturday
THE NETHERLANDS: Protesters dance during a rally in Amsterdam against new Covid-19 restrictions amid soaring cases in Europe
THE NETHERLANDS: Several hundred flag-waving protesters still gathered in central Dam Square in Amsterdam, watched over by police vans, according to Dutch media and images on social media
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