©picture alliance / Caro | Ruffer
Around a little after 9 p.m. on Thursday evening, a violent bang was heard at the D66 party office on Lange Houtstraat in The Hague. A fireworks bomb was thrown through the mailbox. This caused damage to the front door. At the time of the attack, about 30 Young Democrats were inside the building for an evening of speakers, but no one was injured.
The attendees were, however, greatly shaken by the blast. They took themselves to safety in the garden behind the building.
Police detained a suspect shortly thereafter and are investigating it as a possible attack or intimidation. Prime Minister Rob Jetten already called it a "cowardly act of intimidation". He referred to it as "a hopeless act". "Pretty hopeless if you think you can intimidate politicians with this kind of action. We really won't be silenced." The prime minister spoke to the press on Friday before the start of the Council of Ministers.
Already for the second time in nine months, the D66 office was targeted. In September, it was pelted with stones in response to asylum protests on Malieveld. "This incident is not isolated, and that makes it all the more worrying. Young people should be able to participate freely and without fear in the democracy they help shape," said Young Democrats president Rachelle Smook in a comment to NOS.
It's not yet known what the motive was for throwing the fireworks bomb. Prime Minister Jetten points out that it is not only about D66, by the way, but that "every week there are attempts to intimidate, for example, city council members, mayors, police or ambulance men. But you also fortunately saw last night that most Dutch people make it very clear that we absolutely do not accept this in our country and that this is not a country where you can get your way by force. This absolutely does not fit with Dutch norms and values."
Jetten also condemned the attack on social media: "For those who think they can instill fear, I have a message: we in democratic Holland never allow ourselves to be silenced by violence."
©picture alliance / Caro | Ruffer