Dutch far-right leader Thierry Baudet beaten with beer bottle at Groningen campaign stop
Thierry Baudet, the lead of the Dutch far-right party Forum for Democracy, was assaulted on Monday, the party reported on X. According to the party, Baudet was sent to the UMCG hospital in Groningen. Videos circulating on social media show Baudet being hit in a bar with a bottle. A suspect was taken into custody
"It seems that everything will be fine," FVD stated in the message. In a second post, the party said that a trauma surgeon at UMCG treated Baudet, who was "struck on the back of the head with a beer bottle and near the temple next to his eye." A security guard also sustained facial injuries, according to the party.
He was supposed to be at a campaign event in Zwolle at 08:00 p.m. The party said that it was still uncertain whether the event would take place.
Videos posted on social media show the far-right leader being hit with what appears to be a green beer bottle while he was posing for photos with supporters in a bar. Footage also shows Baudet being escorted out of the bar after the attack.
According to RTV Noord, the incident happened in a bar on Gedempte Zuiderdiep in Groningen.
FvD MP Freek Jansen, who was present at the scene, told de Telegraaf that the man who attacked Baudet shouted "Done with fascism" and was arrested immediately after the attack.
A police spokesperson informed RTL Nieuws that a suspect was taken into custody. "We are taking this seriously and are investigating what happened," he said.
Baudet was hit on the head with an umbrella when he was about to give a speech at the University of Ghent in Belgium on 26 October. He sustained a mild concussion from that incident.
In reaction, Pieter Omtzigt of New Social Contract wrote on X that it was "absolutely and completely unacceptable to physically attack and injure Baudet (again). This hits democracy hard. We don't seem to have learned anything from 2002 and Pim Fortuyn.
"Anyone who thinks they can achieve anything with this is not in a good mood. Anyone who attacks journalists, judges or representatives damages democracy," wrote D66 party chairman Jan Paternotte on X.
"Totally unacceptable that Thierry Baudet has been attacked again," said outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte on X. "I said it before and I'll repeat it now: stay away from politicians. Always."
