WATCH | Chaos, immigration clashes in The Hague, police car burned in violent riots

Riots broke out on the streets of The Hague on Saturday, with gangsters clashing with police. Media reports said a large number of Eritrean immigrants broke into the opera house building and threw bricks and stones at police.

Video footage captured dozens of rioters surrounding the venue, with multiple police cars arriving at the scene, the BBC reported. daily mail. The scene was chaotic after the incident, with several windows smashed and vehicles engulfed in flames, leaving the streets like a war zone.

Robin Middle, a spokesman for The Hague city government, said the unrest stemmed from fighting between two Eritrean factions. He said a group supporting the Eritrean government was meeting at the opera house and was ambushed by Eritreans opposed to the regime.

The streets were strewn with shards of glass and tear gas filled the air as police in riot gear tried to control the violence. Police blocked the entrance to the building, put out a fire that broke out inside and even removed what appeared to be a fuel canister from the building.

Dutch journalists documented the unfolding events, describing rioters trying to break into the opera house entrance while fire brigade worked to extinguish the flames, daily mail explain. The intensity of the riots resulted in severe damage to the Opera House.

British newspapers say clashes between Eritrean groups have added to a spate of violence at Eritrean events across Europe. Underlying tensions stem from dissatisfaction with the Eritrean government of President Isaias Afwerki, prompting tens of thousands of people to flee to Europe.