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Netherlands sees more violent incidents involving asylum-seekers

Xinhua, October 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

The number of violent incidents reported in and around asylum-seeker centers in the Netherlands rose dramatically in the first six months of this year, according to figures released by the Dutch refugee settlement agency COA on Monday.

In the first half of this year, 502 incidents were reported to police, compared to 377 in the whole of 2015. In total, the COA registered 2,803 instances of aggression and violence, including 1,252 reports of physical violence.

In 166 cases, a report led to a criminal investigation by the public prosecutor. One in six cases of the violent incidents targeted COA employees or police officers. Three criminal investigations were initiated because of allegation of sexual offense.

In his letter sent to parliament, Dutch Minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff said that the increasing influx of asylum-seekers caused by the refugee crisis in past 12 months have led to tensions within refugees.

There are about 43,000 people at sheltering centers in the Netherlands. Last year, some 50,000 to 60,000 refugees arrived in the country. In 2014, the country had received 24,000 requests for asylum. For 2016, the Dutch government has based its budget calculations on a number of 58,000 incoming refugees. Enditem