Two people were killed by fireworks, police faced ‘unprecedented’ violence and a church was gutted by fire in a chaotic New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands.
A 17-year-old boy from Nijmegen and a 38-year-old man from Aalsmeer died in separate fireworks incidents, while three other people were left seriously injured.
Authorities said one person has been arrested in connection with the teenager’s death, with no more details given.
Dutch Police Union head, Nine Kooiman, said there had been an ‘unprecedented amount of violence against police and emergency services’ on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Ms Koiiman added that she herself had been pelted three times by fireworks and other explosives as she worked a shift in Amsterdam.
Meanwhile, a massive blaze ripped through the Vondelkerk, a 1872 church popular with tourists.
The 50-metre-high (164-foot) tower collapsed and the roof was badly damaged but the structure was expected to remain intact, Amsterdam authorities said.
Video footage shows the church engulfed in flames,
Images show people fighting in the streets, launching fireworks towards buildings and clashing with police.
There were reports of people throwing petrol bombs at officers in the southern city of Breda.
Shortly after midnight, authorities released a rare country-wide alert on mobile phones warning people not to call overwhelmed emergency services unless lives were at risk.
The Dutch had bought huge quantities of fireworks this year due to an expected ban of unofficial fireworks this year.
According to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association, a record €129 million euros (£25.4m) were spent on on fireworks.
Some areas had been designated firework-free zones, but this reportedly had little effect.
The eye hospital in Rotterdam said it had treated 14 patients, including 10 minors, for eye injuries. Two received surgery.
Police in neighbouring Belgium were also targeted with fireworks, despite a New Year ban on their use. Scores of arrests were made.
In Germany, meanwhile, two 18-year-olds died in the western city of Bielefeld when they set off home-made fireworks, local police said in a statement.
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