Overview
- Extinction Rebellion activists walked onto the Utrechtsebaan (A12) on Saturday and stopped traffic for about two hours before police cleared the road.
- Mayor Jan van Zanen ordered an immediate eviction and police detained all protesters and took them to a station for registration.
- Police said 25–30 people were held while XR claims 53 were arrested, and officers specifically arrested two people for endangering or obstructing traffic.
- The Openbaar Ministerie will now decide whether to press charges, reflecting a national agreement earlier this week to generally prosecute highway and rail blockades because of safety concerns after a fatal farmers' protest.
- XR said the action was unregistered to protect anonymity and force political attention, while local politicians requested formal reports and enforcement that could lead to more prosecutions and greater legal risk for future motorway actions.