Thierry Baudet was the target of an attack for the second time in a short time on Monday. The leader of Forum for Democracy received a blow to the head during a campaign meeting in a Groningen café.
The police confirm to NU.nl that Baudet was hit on the head with an object. A man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident. The police are still investigating.
The incident happened in café The Cabin on the Gedempte Zuiderdiep in Groningen. This was confirmed by an employee of the café, who could not comment further.
Images circulating on X show Baudet standing behind the bar when he appears to be hit by a person with a glass bottle. The FVD leader is then led away by security guards.
According to FVD, Baudet was taken to the hospital in Groningen. “It looks like everything will be fine,” the party reports on X.
FVD writes that Baudet was hit on the back of the head with a beer bottle. In addition, he is said to have been hit “just next to his eye on the edge of his temple”. According to FVD, a security guard was injured in the face.
Baudet would be present at an event in Zwolle later in the evening. It is not yet certain whether this will continue.
0:43Baudet attacked with bottle in Groningen café
Politicians express disgust at the second attack on Baudet
It is the second time in a short time that Baudet has been the target of a physical attack. At the end of October, he was hit on the head with an umbrella by a man in Ghent, Belgium. According to Baudet, he suffered a mild concussion.
“Totally unacceptable that Thierry Baudet has been attacked again,” outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte writes on X. “I said it before and repeat it firmly now: stay away from politicians.” Rutte wished Baudet a lot of strength and recovery.
BBB leader Caroline van der Plas and NSC party leader Pieter Omtzigt also call the attack unacceptable. Van der Plas speaks of a “disgusting and cowardly attack again against Thierry Baudet”.
Omtzigt makes a comparison with Pim Fortuyn, who was murdered in 2002. “This hits democracy hard. We don’t seem to have learned anything from 2002 and Pim Fortuyn. Get well soon Thierry and hope it goes well.”
Annabel Nanninga of JA21 was a fellow party member of Baudet at FVD for a long time. She calls the incident “sick” and “life-threatening”. “For God’s sake, stop this, leave Thierry (or anyone else) alone. Stay away from him and use your democratic right to vote, but no violence.”
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