Dutch far right leader Baudet assaulted before Belgian university lecture

Thierry Baudet was assaulted upon his arrival at the University of Ghent on Thursday evening, video from the scene showed. He was due to give a lecture at the institution in Belgium. Baudet was uninjured.

The FVD leader was hit on the head with an object, according to various media outlets in Belgium. Photos taken at the scene suggest that the object is a collapsible umbrella.

There was already a great deal of commotion about the lecture in the run-up to the scheduled appearance. The university tried in vain to stop this, because it could not guarantee safety.

The far-right Dutch politician was invited to speak by the KVHV, a conservative student association. The politician has promoted a litany of conspiracy theories in recent years, including one suggesting that the world is ruled by an elite group of reptilian people, a theory critics believe to be a metaphor for an anti-Semitic stance.

There was a heavy security presence at the event, according to local media outlets. Even still, the offender was able to walk up to Baudet and strike him with an orange umbrella. The attacker was tackled to the ground by a security worker.

The protestor reportedly shouted against fascism and denounced Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

He was arrested at the scene. The lecture went ahead as planned.