“The extreme farming gear must be traced and locked up,” says a message from a Facebook user from Emmen a few days ago. The animal activist says about livestock farmers: “They are right-wing nationalists and comparable to Nazis for the animals.” Readers are also urged to join the Animals Defense Force.
The message announces imminent illegal actions. “From next week we will occupy livestock farms and free the animals from the mega stables.” According to a spokesperson for LTO Nederland, such reports cause unrest among farmers, including dairy farmers, pig and poultry farmers.
A board member of the Dutch Union of Poultry Farmers has filed a report with the police. “This is about incitement,” explains chairman Bart-Jan Oplaat about the Facebook message.
Below the radar
In May 2019, a large group of animal extremists stormed into a pig farm in Brabant. Dozens of mainly international activists then occupied the stables for ten hours. Ultimately, 67 of them were fined 300 euros and a suspended sentence of 1 week in prison. Many other burglaries by animal activists go under the radar.
As a result of the barn occupation in Boxtel, the cabinet and farmers’ organizations agreed that from now on any suspicious situation, burglary or destruction will be shared with the Counter Terrorism, Extremism & Radicalization team of the National Police.
Livestock farmers are also advised to take measures themselves against any form of stable querrilla. These include, for example, putting up cameras, ‘no trespassing’ signs and where possible locking barn doors.
The Ministry of Justice has not commented on the new threats from animal activists.