Leader of Dutch far-right populist party hit on head in attack 2 days before general election

The leader of a far-right Dutch populist party has been assaulted at an event two days before the Netherlands holds a general election

Netherlands Election Assault (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The leader of a far-right Dutch populist party was assaulted Monday at an event in the northern city of Groningen two days before the Netherlands holds a general election.

Thierry Baudet, leader of Forum for Democracy, was taken to a hospital in the city, the party said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.

“It looks like everything will all be alright,” the party said. It later said Baudet was treated by a trauma surgeon after being hit on the back of the head and next to his eye with a beer bottle. It said a security guard also was injured.

Video on social media showed Baudet in a bar when his attacker lunged at him. Baudet was quickly taken away and the attacker overpowered.

Police spokesman Thijs de Jong said a person was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack. He said the motive was under investigation.

“What we can say at the moment is that Mr. Baudet was hit on the head, possibly with an object,” De Jong said. He said he could not give further details or comment on Baudet’s condition.

Baudet is running to keep his seat in parliament.

His party said on X that it was not clear if a later event in another Dutch city would go ahead.

Last month, Baudet was hit on the head with an umbrella at an event in the Belgian city of Ghent.

Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a message on X that it was “totally unacceptable that Thierry Baudet has been attacked again. I said it before and I repeat it now firmly: Don’t touch politicians.”

Rutte said he had contacted Baudet to wish him good health.