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Large-scale police operation after Palestinian protesters enter university administration building

07 May 2025

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 sympathizers 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.

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1 reactie

  1. 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.

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