Unrest in Rotterdam after man dies in mistaken arrest

The death of a Rotterdam man who was arrested by police on Saturday for purportedly riding a stolen fatbike has sparked unrest in the city after it turned out he was not who they were looking for. Police confirmed that his fatbike was the wrong one, and prosecutors said he resisted arrest and then died shortly afterwards despite their attempts to resuscitate him.

The 51-year old, Alfredo Goeloe, was out to collect diabetes medication, according to his family, when police approached as they were searching for a stolen fatbike.

He failed to produce identification, public prosecutors said, and ran from them. Once they caught him he tried to escape their restraints and then fell immediately unwell.

Some of the events were caught on camera, including him screaming in pain and shouting that he had diabetes as additional police rushed to assist the arrest.

A 45-second video of the event, which cut off before he fell ill, was taken by a passer by. The footage is being investigated and Goeloe’s relatives are being assisted by an organisation called Controle Alt Delete, which works against ethnic profiling.

His family’s lawyer also told the talk show Pauw en de Wit on Monday night that they will file a criminal complaint. Goeloe’s partner is expecting a child.

A silent march in Rotterdam was held last night in tribute to Goeloe, which proceeded peacefully but ended with some unrest outside the Zuidplein police station, where riot police formed a line in front of the marchers and fireworks were thrown. One person was arrested.