More than 1,500 arrested at Extinction Rebellion protest in The Hague

More than 1,500 people were arrested during a protest by Extinction Rebellion in The Hague on Saturday.

Climate activists caused travel chaos for motorists after blocking a section of a motorway during a protest against Dutch fuel subsidies in the afternoon.

Police said they had used a water cannon to disperse activists blocking a major road in the city, and arrested “a total of 1,579 people … 40 of whom will be prosecuted” on charges including vandalism.

One of the activists bit a police officer during his arrest, police said.

Several Dutch celebrities were among the protesters, including Carice van Houten, best known for her role as Melisandre in the hit TV series Game of Thrones. Van Houten posted a video on Instagram showing herself wearing a red poncho, getting drenched from a water cannon.

ANP reported that she was arrested and later allowed to return home, but did not specify whether she was among those who will be prosecuted.

Around 7,000 people took part in the demonstration, according to Extinction Rebellion.

“We’re going to stay here until they drag us away,” said postgraduate student Anne Kerevers, 31.

“Climate change is an unfolding crisis and we know the cause and it’s still being subsidised by our government and it needs to stop,” she told AFP.

Police said they had repeatedly “given activists the opportunity to end their action and leave” before using the water cannon and making arrests.

“We’ve been coming back every month, or every two months, and every time the number (of protesters) has doubled,” said Aaron Pereira, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion.

“There is broad popular support for real climate action and people are waking up to the fact that the government is actively going against this by subsidising the fossil fuel industry.”