Eleven youngsters said to be members of a 70-strong youth gang operating in The Hague have been arrested in a string of dawn raids on their homes, Nos television reports on Tuesday.

The youths, aged 17 to 21, are suspected of involvement in at least 25 burglaries in The Hague. The gang as a whole is said to be responsible for a string of violent incidents in the area around the Beresteinlaan, the broadcaster said.

Nos reporter Roel Pauw, who accompanied the police, said the arrests took around 10 minutes and the young men did not resist.

‘They were totally shocked at the police raid, which involved breaking down doors,’ he said. ‘Then you have seven men in helmets, goggles and bullet proof vests in your bedroom.’