Hundreds of anti-asylum protesters attack police

An emergency decree was proclaimed in the Brabant town of Heesch on Monday night after anti-asylum protesters started pelting the police with fireworks, stones and eggs. The demonstration ended with the riot police intervening and forcing everyone to go home. Three people were arrested. No one was injured. The demonstration took place in the square in front of the town hall where, according to the Volkskrant, a council meeting was planned on Monday night. Several sources told the newspaper that the town hall was evacuated, but the police could not confirm this. The demonstrators were protesting against plans for asylum center in the town. The mayor and aldermen of municipality Bernheze, under which Heesch falls, plan to open a center to house up to 500 asylum seekers for no more than ten years. Last week protesters placed two dead piglets and banners on the planned site for the center. Minister Ronald Plasterk of Home Affairs called it "sad" that another anti-asylum protest got out of hand. "Sad that the council meeting in Bernheze was disrupted again", the Minister said to the Volkskrant. "Objections and demonstrations are allowed in a democracy, but violence affects the essence of our democratic country."