Police mobilize Den Bosch after threats to storm asylum center
Police were deployed on a large scale in Den Bosch on Saturday evening after threats circulated about storming a local asylum seekers’ center, authorities said.
Around 100 officers, including riot police from Amsterdam, were called in as a precaution, according to Omroep Brabant. No confrontation ultimately took place.
The Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers (COA), the agency responsible for asylum reception, alerted police after learning of plans discussed in a WhatsApp group to storm the facility. Officers decided not to take any risks.
About 40 people gathered near the provincial government building in Den Bosch but quickly left. The heavy police presence, including a drone monitoring the area, allegedly may have discouraged escalation.
Those who assembled were believed to be members of the far-right activist group Defend Netherlands. The group was also present last week at an anti-immigration protest on the Malieveld in The Hague that descended into riots.
The Dutch intelligence service AIVD has been investigating so-called “defend groups” for some time. According to the agency, these groups act as self-styled security units at demonstrations. They claim to protect demonstrators from police violence.
