The images went round and round on social media. A far-right Dutch lawmaker was attacked on Monday while holding a rally in a bar in the northern city of Groningen, his party, the Forum for Democracy (FvD), said.
According to images broadcast on X, this deputy, Thierry Baudet, can be seen greeting the bar owners when suddenly, a man violently hits him three times on the side of the head with what appears to be a green beer bottle.
🚨New: Dutch conservative leader Thierry Baudet was attacked with a bottle to his head two days ahead of the Netherlands election. Baudet was taken to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/ZTZIsY9hZK
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) November 20, 2023
The politician was immediately escorted out of the bar, while passers-by subdued the assailant, who was later arrested by police. He was then taken to hospital, the FvD told X, without specifying whether he had been injured. "It looks like everything is going well," the party said simply.
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A controversial MP, Thierry Baudet has defended various conspiracy theories and is known for his outspoken support for Moscow.
Already assaulted last month
In October, a man wielding an umbrella threw himself at him on the campus of Ghent University. He came out of it shocked. Both attacks sparked outrage from the Dutch political class and calls for increased security for politicians.
The attack comes as the Dutch are due to go to the polls on Wednesday for general elections.
