LONDON 

A far-right group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a series of racist slogans projected on the Erasmus Bridge during New Year celebrations in the Netherlands. 

The group calling itself White Lives Matter said on Telegram that its members from the Netherlands and Germany projected the racist messages on the bridge in Rotterdam during New Year celebrations by "wishing people in the Netherlands a Happy White 2023." 

On its channel with more than 15,000 subscribers, the group also called on followers to make "similar collaboration."

When the clock hit midnight, a series of racists messages, including "white lives matter" and "happy white 2023" were projected on the bridge in the Netherlands.

Earlier Tuesday, the Dutch Prosecution Service said that it will launch a criminal investigation into the racist incident. 

In a written statement, the service said expressions should never incite discrimination or offend another community.