Man arrested shortly before populist politician's election event

The police arrested a man shortly before an election event by PVV leader Geert Wilders in Heerlen on Saturday. On Twitter Wilders said the authorities told him the man wanted to harm him.

Wilders went to hand out flyers in Heerlen on Saturday, for the Provincial States elections happening later this month. "I just heard from the [counterterrorism coordinator] NCTV that a few minutes before my arrival in Heerlen a 'disturbed man' was arrested who indicated that he wanted to do something to me", Wilders said on Twitter. "Luckily that did not succeed and I enthusiastically handed out flyers in Heerlen, many thanks to the police for its actions!"

The Limburg police confirmed on Twitter that a man was arrested before the election event, but did not give any further information.