More arrests in Zaandam neighborhood unrest

The police arrested a number of people in the Zaandam neighborhood of Poelenburg on Thursday. Exact numbers are still unclear, but at least four people were arrested, a police spokesperson said to ANP. According to the spokesperson, the suspects were arrested because they were forming groups on a square that has a ban on assembly in place. Among those arrested is a boy who thre eggs at a PowNed camera crew. Poelenburg has been restless for a few weeks. The neighborhood made headlines last week when a group of young people threatened a Hart van Nederland news crew. The news crew was reporting on harassment and intimidation at a local shopping center.

On Friday a swastika and racist messages were spray painted on the Vomar supermarket in the shopping center. On Sunday city councilor Juliette Rotpressed intimidation charges after she was harassed while giving an interview about the vandalism at the supermarket. The police are investigating. On Monday night the municipality of Zaanstad, the police and the Public Prosecutor announced extra surveillance in the neighborhood. The police will act against gatherings, there will be extra patrols and some area bans may be implemented. A total of 12 people were previously arrested in connection with unrest in the neighborhood so far. Most of them were released after questioning. Vlogger Ismail Ilgun was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of sedition. He is still in custody and will be arraigned on Friday. On Thursday Zaanstad mayor Geke Faber survived a vote of no confidence in a city council debate about unrest in the neighborhood.