Rijkswaterstaat after asbestos dump on highway: ‘Stop unsafe farmer actions’ | Inland

On Wednesday afternoon, four security regions in the east of the country, Rijkswaterstaat and the police in the east of the Netherlands will appeal to farmers’ activists to stop unsafe actions. Police are investigating who lit straw bales, waste and materials containing asbestos on highways on Wednesday morning. Around 04:00 there are a few more farmer demonstrations. As a result, the exit on the route from Apeldoor to Amersfoort at Stroe – Voortuizen is closed. Two lanes are closed at the Voorst exit on the route from Hengelo to Apeldoorn. On the route from Amersfoort to Hengelo, two lanes are closed between the Hoenderloo and Voorst exits.

The police in the east of the country have not yet arrested anyone because of the farmers’ actions on and near highways on Wednesday morning. “If there is information or we know who is behind it, we will act, but that is not underway at this time.” The police are also following online reports aimed at companies that are helping to clear the mess of the blockades on Wednesday. There may be incitement and that is punishable, according to the police and the Public Prosecution Service.

“Deliberately setting fire to straw bales, dumping waste, including materials containing asbestos and spreading manure, unsafe situations have been created by a number of farmers,” the authorities said in a joint statement on Wednesday. “Actions such as last night can lead to life-threatening situations for road users. It can cause accidents and fire.” Fire is a major risk now that it has been very dry for weeks and can have far-reaching consequences, according to the emergency services.

According to RTV Oost, there was also an accident on the A1 near Ede as a result of the farmers’ actions.

Arrests farmer actions

Police report that farmers are not physically protesting. It is up to Rijkswaterstaat to clear the blockages that have been put up. “We as police have no role in that.” Rijkswaterstaat has been cleaning up the mess on the road since morning.

Asked whether the police will try to find the perpetrators, the spokesperson says that it will “be made difficult for us” if they do not know who, for example, set straw bales on fire. “We need to have information that leads us to the people behind this.”

BBB leader Caroline van der Plas calls on farmers to stop taking actions that endanger people and the environment, such as blocking highways or setting fire to hay bales. She does write on Twitter that she understands the emotions of the farmers and that she “stands behind their struggle”, but then the actions must be “within the law”.

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