Dutch police have launched an investigation into the use of force against a pregnant woman at an asylum seekers' centre in Zeist after videos of the incident circulated widely on social media.
Authorities said all circumstances surrounding the arrest on 19 May would be thoroughly examined. The investigation was announced after footage emerged showing officers using force while responding to an incident at the centre.
According to police, officers were called to the facility following reports of threats and vandalism involving a knife.
Videos from the scene show officers confronting a man and a woman in a corridor. In one clip, an officer handling a police dog pulls the woman backwards, causing her to fall. Another video shows officers dragging her away while attempting to restrain the man.
Police said the woman had been repeatedly instructed to leave the area for her own safety. When she failed to comply, an officer took hold of her arm and pulled her backwards, causing her to fall.
Authorities confirmed that the woman was pregnant but said the officer involved was unaware of her condition at the time.
In a police statement, the officer said he would have acted differently had he known she was expecting.
Police said the woman later intervened during a struggle between the man and an officer. Other officers then removed her from the scene by holding her hood and arm.
The woman informed officers that she was pregnant during the incident, police said.
“Action was taken immediately,” the statement said, adding that she was examined by ambulance personnel shortly afterwards.
The investigation remains ongoing as police review the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the use of force used by officers.
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