Football hooligan threats prompt extra asylum security in Brabant

Concerns of violence around a debate on the housing of asylum seekers in Steenbergen, Noord-Brabant prompted local mayor Joseph Vos to order strict security measures to prevent rioting. Police will search anyone entering the area surrounding the community center meeting location for any item that may be used as a weapon, as well as balaclavas, masks and alcohol. The municipality had reason to believe that supporters of Rotterdam football club Feyenoord were planning riots amid demonstrations against housing of refugees. The additional security went into force at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and was scheduled to end at midnight. Last week, protestors and supporters of asylum acceptance clashed in Steenbergen. Peaceful protests devolved into a shouting match, with eggs thrown at demonstrators. Police were able to quell the situation. Rumors also surfaced that the leader of the anti-Islam and anti-refugee PVV party, Geert Wilders, would hand out flyers calling for the closure of Dutch borders in the Noord-Brabant town on Wednesday. Wilders is reportedly still in Australia where he is discussing his politics with the creators of a new political party in that country.