The police made three arrests this afternoon at the demonstration against the registration center in Ter Apel. Two suspects allegedly verbally abused officers.
Mayor Jaap Velema of Westerwolde banned the demonstration by right-wing opponents shortly after it started via an emergency order, because it had not been reported to the municipality in advance.
On this basis, right-wing demonstrators were removed from the vicinity of the registration center by the massively deployed police.
In an explanation, he said that the decision for the emergency order was made on the basis of signals received by the police. This would involve disturbances. “Or violence against people staying at the registration center, police officers or other demonstrators,” said Velema.
Groups of supporters and opponents of the registration center in Ter Apel reported in the village around noon. Both groups were separated upon arrival and walked from two sides to the asylum complex on Nulweg. There, two sections have been created using crush barriers, which are a few hundred meters apart.
Although the action group Defend Netherlands withdrew their demonstration earlier this week for fear of disorder, approximately thirty sympathizers from other right-wing groups still came to Ter Apel. Because this action had not been reported in advance, Mayor Jaap Velema of Westerwolde decided to intervene.
When the opponents present refused to leave their box voluntarily, the police closed in a group of about fifteen demonstrators. One arrest was made. The suspect allegedly called officers ‘NSB members’.
A flag with far-right symbols was also seized. Another protester was arrested while trying to reach the proponents’ box.
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