Large-scale police operation after Palestinian protesters enter university administration building
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De politieactie op de Heyendaalseweg Foto: Vox
Major unrest this afternoon on the university campus. After briefly entering the Berchmanianum building, pro-Palestinian protesters were met with three arrests on Heyendaalseweg. The university has filed a report for trespassing.
The protest march began at 12:30 from Erasmusplein to the Berchmanianum building. The demonstrators demanded that the university board adopt the recommendation to end collaborations with Israeli universities. At the Berchmanianum building, president Alexandra van Huffelen came outside to address the demonstrators.
However, she refused to speak with a spokesperson who had their face covered. When she went back inside, several demonstrators followed her into the Berchmanianum. Security guards were unable to stop them. The group continued protesting in the ground floor lobby for about half an hour.
14 police vehicles
Police arrived on the scene with at least 14 vehicles and cordoned off Houtlaan. After a few officers spoke with the demonstrators, they left the building. The group then moved back to Erasmusplein.
Five protesters left the crowd arm in arm. On Heyendaalseweg, they were surrounded by police. At least one of them was arrested. A police dog and batons were used to keep approaching sympathisers at bay. One of the detainees was bitten in the leg and taken to the hospital.
In total, police made three arrests. According to a spokesperson, the suspects are accused of public violence; two of them also face charges of assault. These incidents reportedly took place in or around the Berchmanianum. At a quarter to two, officers left the campus again amid loud jeering.
Noise demo
Afterwards, two students who were inside the Berchmanianum told Vox they were pushed by security guards, one of them receiving a shove to the throat. They say they witnessed no incident that, in their view, would justify arrests.
Activist group Nijmegen Student Encampment has announced a noise protest at the police station later this afternoon.
Reaction from the Executive Board
The Executive Board has just published a statement on the university website regarding the demonstration and the arrests. The message reads:
“A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators used physical violence to force their way into a building on the Radboud University campus (Berchmanianum) at around 13:00. During the incident, a security guard was bitten on the hand, an employee was grabbed and beaten, and another employee was scratched and had his arm injured.
President of the Executive Board Alexandra van Huffelen: ‘It is disgraceful that our own employees are being harassed in this way; this is unacceptable behaviour that crosses all boundaries. We cannot tolerate this. It is good to know that the police have made arrests.’
Staff reported the physical violence to the police, and the university reported the trespassing.”
Absurd schreef op 7 mei 2025 om 16:35
” An employee’s arm was scratched ” I think it’s time to call the troops. I suggest a Nuremberg tribunal alike procedures for those monsters, and for my cat too.
DefundSkinnyJeans schreef op 7 mei 2025 om 18:48
Alexandra must resign after this misinformation campaign! Disgusting how the executive board amplify lies after brutalising and choking students! The same (in)security is responsible for several more harassment, profiling and assault incidents. Where are the announcements and condemnations from the CvB then?
The lack of accountability allows them to call the police to continue kidnapping students AND staff. When is it a shame for those staff members or does it only count when the staff are also abusers?
There is a student in the hospital needing surgery and their blood is on Alexandra’s hands. Radboud is quick to call police to brutalise students but they remain inactive when it comes to cutting ties to WAR CRIMINALS according to their own committee.
Too little too late schreef op 8 mei 2025 om 09:57
Never mind. Next week we celebrate Titus Day. Why actually?
All that the CvB will decide the day before will be too little too late.
They staggering behind our government, too afraid to upset the extreme right.