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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A demonstration against police erupted into violence in The Hague, with protesters angry at the death in custody of a man over the weekend smashing windows and throwing rocks and fireworks at officers.
Riot police were called up to restore order after the protest turned ugly late Monday night. Police said Tuesday that they arrested 16 people, mainly for public disorder. One police officer was slightly injured.
The demonstration followed the death of 42-year-old Mitch Henriquez after his arrest Saturday night at a music festival in The Hague.
Henriquez "resisted arrest and police therefore used force to bring him to the police station. What happened then is being investigated," prosecutors said in a statement.
An autopsy was being carried out Tuesday to establish the cause of death amid claims from the rioters of police brutality. The result of the autopsy and a toxicology report were expected later in the week.
Prosecutors were interviewing witnesses and the officers involved in the arrest.
Henriquez was visiting the Netherlands from Aruba, a Caribbean island that is formally part of the Netherlands.
Police issued a statement Monday pledging to cooperate fully in an independent investigation already underway into his death.
Hague Mayor Jozias van Aartsen appealed to protesters "not to let feelings of helplessness and anger turn into vandalism and violence."
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