Police arrested five people on Saturday during demonstrations near the asylum reception centre in Ter Apel. Earlier reports mentioned three arrests, but authorities later confirmed that two more people had been detained.
According to police, two people were arrested for insulting officers and refusing to identify themselves. One person was detained for failing to provide identification, while another was arrested for setting off fireworks.
The demonstrations otherwise passed without major incidents. At around 3pm, the final protesters left the area around the registration centre and later boarded buses outside the village.
A large police presence was deployed in and around the Groningen village during the planned protests. The mayor of Westerwolde, the municipality that includes Ter Apel, had issued an emergency order covering parts of the village. Authorities said the measure followed signals and information suggesting possible disruptions to public order and safety.
Around 200 demonstrators marched at the start of the afternoon from outside Ter Apel towards the asylum centre. Upon arrival, police directed them into a fenced-off area. A smaller group of demonstrators carrying Dutch flags gathered further away and was separated from the main protest by police.
The group Defend Netherlands, which has previously taken part in several anti-asylum protests, had announced plans to demonstrate near the reception centre on Saturday afternoon. Later in the day, the organisation said on social media that it had called off the action.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
