New Year's Eve violence escalates across the Netherlands as fireworks target police

New Year's Eve saw unprecedented levels of violence against police and emergency services across the Netherlands. Authorities reported that fireworks were deliberately aimed at officers, with incidents including firework rockets, cake boxes, and shells being thrown. Emergency responders sustained injuries, and some police protective gear melted from the heat of the fireworks. The Dutch Police Union stated that the scale of the violence was overwhelming, with similar dynamics observed nationwide. They believe the fireworks ban is necessary to reduce the "firepower" available to rioters.