Police arrest protesters at Microsoft data centre site in Amsterdam

Police in Amsterdam arrested protesters who entered a Microsoft data centre construction site, Yle reported.

More than 100 activists opposing data centres marched onto the site on Friday, breaking through its fences. Some climbed construction machinery and clashed with police.

A Microsoft representative said the company understood that the data centre had stirred strong feelings and that people had the right to express their views. The representative said the company would not accept illegal actions or conduct that put safety at risk.

Protests against data centres are planned in several European countries this weekend. In Finland, demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday in at least Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Tampere, Turku and Oulu.

Opponents say data centres damage the environment and cause various social problems. They are calling for construction projects to be frozen until regulations have been developed democratically.