Farmers’ action group Farmers Defense Force (FDF) calls on farmers to come to a police station in Leeuwarden on Wednesday afternoon, where a 16-year-old activist is said to be detained who was arrested on Tuesday evening during a farmers’ protest in Heerenveen.
Foreman Mark van den Oever makes that call in a video message posted on YouTube is placed. FDF also calls on people to go to the Frisian capital on other social media.
The minor in question is said to have been arrested after a police action in which targeted shots were fired and warning shots were also fired. A tractor was hit by a bullet. This happened at a ramp to the A32. A total of three people have been arrested.
bullet hole
Images and videos of the incident are circulating on social media. Also shown is a bullet hole in a tractor. One of the videos shows that officers appear to be on the road with guns drawn when a tractor with trailer drives past a police blockade. Then shots can be heard on the video. There is no evidence of any attack on officers.
According to Van den Oever, the 16-year-old boy in question has been wrongly detained on suspicion of attempted murder and must be released ‘immediately’. “Because this is all unbearable. That cop should be behind bars. Because there was no life-threatening situation at all and he kept enough distance. He didn’t hit the officer.” The FDF chairman calls the alleged arrest “a disgrace to democracy.” These are commands from above to escalate.”
Errand
In a separate message, FDF calls on farmers ‘NOW to get on the tractor, in the car, on the moped, or on the bicycle’ and to go to Leeuwarden. “The government will try to keep you out of the city. DO NOT ALLOW THIS,” FDF said. Police are urged not to stop ‘peaceful people’. “Don’t participate in a reign of terror.”
During the recent farmers’ protests, the action group has not been heard much on social media or elsewhere. FDF said it was not involved in organizing or coordinating the protests.