Riot police deployed after Koran burning at Hoofddorp asylum protest; 7 arrested
The police arrested seven people during demonstrations around an asylum shelter in Hoofddorp on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the evening, Pegida leader Edwin Wagensveld burned a Koran at the center. Counter-demonstrators responded, throwing fireworks, stones, and traffic signs at the anti-asylum protesters and the police, NOS reports.
Things were restless in the neighborhood surrounding the shelter for the entire evening, a police spokesperson told NOS. Things calmed down somewhat at around 11:00 p.m., but the police remained in the area.
According to the broadcaster NH Nieuws, a small group of counter-protesters sought confrontation with the police, throwing burning fireworks, glassware, and stones. Wagensveld and another initiator of the Koran burning fled into a police station.
The riot police performed charges with dogs. One person was arrested before the Koran building for failing to obey police orders. The others were arrested after the Koran burning. Most were charged with disturbing the peace.
The municipality had initially banned the Koran burning by the far-right group, but Wagensveld took the matter to court. The court ruled that the Koran burning could proceed under strict conditions, including some fire safety conditions.
