Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Police Arrest Two Youths in Connection to Plein ’40-’45 Riots

In a swift response to the chaotic scenes that unfolded on Plein ’40-’45, Amsterdam police have detained two young individuals suspected of openly violent behavior during the riots. The arrestees are a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man.

The disorder erupted amidst a city-wide emergency decree enacted following the unrest and violence that ensued after the Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv match some days prior. The tranquil Plein ’40-’45 was marred by vandalism, with a tram set ablaze and property damage allegedly caused by projectiles and fireworks. The police’s Mobile Unit intervened to restore order.

This latest development follows the arrests of seven young suspects in December, aged between 14 and 21. During that round-up, officers also seized heavy fireworks. In the aftermath of the riots, several others were apprehended for setting a police vehicle on fire and assaulting a cyclist.

As investigations continue, Amsterdam authorities remain vigilant in ensuring the safety of its citizens and preventing further lawlessness.

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Amsterdam Abandons ‘Smart‘ Traffic Lights Over Privacy Concerns

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Amsterdam has decided to halt the implementation of ‘smart‘ traffic lights in the city due to privacy concerns, a recent report by AT5 has revealed. This decision marks a significant change from the municipality’s earlier plans to equip every traffic light in the city with ‘intelligent’ technology.

Just over a year ago, the municipality announced its intention to convert all traffic lights in Amsterdam into ‘smart’ ones, communicating via apps to recognize and prioritize specific groups, such as cyclists or heavy vehicles, at busy intersections. The goal was to improve traffic flow, but the plan has hit a roadblock.

In practice, the project remained limited to a small-scale trial at only two intersections. The municipality now admits that the risks to personal data protection outweigh the benefits. Verkeerswethouder Melanie van der Horst cited concerns expressed by the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, AP) as a key factor in this decision.

The AP has warned about the potential for smart traffic lights to collect and process personal data. According to the authority, lights communicating with apps on drivers’ mobile phones can gather extensive data, including complete journey information, dates, times, and speeds. With knowledge of the lights’ locations, authorities can track drivers’ movements.

The wethouder also mentioned technical issues, lack of improvement in traffic flow, and potential for hacking as other reasons for abandoning the project. While Amsterdam is pulling out of the smart traffic light race, other Dutch cities like Flevoland, Den Bosch, and Haarlemmermeer continue to experiment with such technology, raising similar privacy concerns.

This move comes on the heels of another privacy-related decision by Wethouder Van der Horst. Late last year, she announced that Amsterdam’s parking attendants would stop apprehending stolen vehicles, citing privacy concerns.

Amsterdam’s U-turn on smart traffic lights serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between convenience and privacy in the digital age. While such technology promises to revolutionize urban mobility, the city’s experience underscores the need for careful consideration of the potential consequences for data protection.

Title: Heroic Tourists Rescue Woman from Sinking Car in Amsterdam‘s Keizersgracht

In a heartwarming display of humanity, two tourists swiftly responded to an emergency in the early hours of today, rescuing a woman from her car as it sank into the freezing waters of Amsterdam’s Keizersgracht canal. Their quick action likely averted a potentially tragic outcome, with both the rescued woman and the brave tourists suffering no lasting harm.

The drama unfolded just after 8:30 AM. The woman, for reasons yet unknown, found her car plunging into the canal. The alarm was raised, and emergency services swiftly deployed, including two ambulances, a diving team, and multiple fire trucks. However, the situation was already well in hand by the time they arrived.

Two passerby tourists, displaying remarkable presence of mind, leapt into action. They ignored the biting cold and dove into the canal, swimming towards the woman’s sinking car. They managed to extricate her safely and brought her to the canal bank. The three were then comforting each other with warm blankets provided by the arriving emergency services.

The tourists’ swift intervention was crucial. With water temperatures barely above 4°C (39°F), the risk of life-threatening hypothermia is substantial. The woman, and indeed the tourists themselves, owe their safety to the quick thinking and bravery of these unexpected heroes.

"Its a good thing these tourists acted so quickly," commented an Amsterdam fire service spokesperson. "This could have had a very different outcome otherwise."

The fire service has since recovered the submerged car. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present dangers of open water, even in the heart of a bustling city.