Seven arrested in Uden after violent clash at asylum center meeting
Seven people were arrested Wednesday night following an information session on the potential establishment of an asylum seekers' center (AZC) in Uden, the Netherlands. While the meeting itself remained peaceful, tensions escalated afterward, leading to violent actions from a group of youths, according to Omroep Brabant. None of the arrested individuals were from Uden. Additionally, two men were detained for public drunkenness and doxing during the demonstration.
The information session took place outside the Kruisherenkapel, where approximately 150 people gathered to protest the proposed asylum center. The area had been designated a "security risk zone," which allowed the police to conduct preventive searches. Police reported no significant findings during the searches, but one man was arrested for public drunkenness.
As most of the demonstrators left after the meeting, the situation took a violent turn later in the evening. Youths who remained on the square caused damage, throwing crowd barriers and fireworks, setting small fires, and clashing with the police. The riot police was called in to restore order.
Police arrested seven individuals for disturbing the public peace, including minors. The arrested individuals came from Oss, Berghem, Nijmegen, and Gorinchem. They have since been released.
A 64-year-old man from Uden was also arrested on suspicion of doxing. He is accused of collecting or distributing personal information, such as addresses and phone numbers, with malicious intent. The suspect had posted images of a police officer online and was attempting to uncover the officer’s personal details. The man remains in custody for further investigation.
This demonstration in Uden follows a similar event in the municipality of Maashorst the previous week, where tensions also flared. Around 300 people gathered outside an information meeting on asylum housing, and several troublemakers threw heavy fireworks, stones, and glass. The riot police was also deployed, and six individuals were arrested, according to Omroep Brabant.
The Maashorst municipality plans to establish three reception locations for asylum seekers for at least the next five years. In Uden, an AZC will house at least 300 asylum seekers. The facility will also accommodate refugees from Ukraine, status holders, and local residents in urgent need of housing. Additional reception places are planned in Schaijk and Zeeland.
