Violence erupts at right-wing demonstration in the Netherlands ahead of election

THE HAGUE Netherlands AP A right-wing demonstration in the Netherlands erupted into violence and chaos Saturday as rioters clashed with police and vandalized a political party s office just weeks before the country holds a general referendum Police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse rioters who threw objects at officers and torched a police car There was no immediate word on injuries or arrests Dutch media manifested rioters also attacking an office of a centrist political party D Scum You keep your hands off political parties the party s leader Rob Jetten stated in a message on X If you think you can intimidate us tough luck We will never let extremist rioters take our beautiful country away A smaller group of rioters headed for the Dutch parliament complex which is at this moment fenced off as it undergoes a years-long renovation The violence erupted at a demonstration attended by hundreds of people multiple of them wearing black and waving flags that called for tougher asylum policies The unrest comes weeks before an Oct general balloting that was called after anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling coalition in a dispute over moves to rein in migration In a announcement Wilders condemned the rioters for blocking a highway and attacking police calling them idiots and scum Source