Smoke Bomb Thrown at Polish, Dutch PMs During WWII Ceremony

The Dutch police arrested five pro-Palestinian protesters this Monday during a World War II commemoration event in Wageningen, in the centre of the Netherlands, for disturbing public order following smoke bombs that forced Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, to be evicted. As the 80th anniversary of Dutch liberation at the end of the Second World War in Europe was commemorated, between 250 and 300 demonstrat…

Smoke Bomb Thrown at Polish, Dutch PMs During WWII Ceremony

A smoke bomb was thrown at Polish PM Tusk and Dutch PM Schoof during a WWII liberation ceremony.

Both Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk were brought to safety in Wageningen on Monday after activists threw a smoke bomb at the prime ministers. Security guards then pulled both prime ministers off the stage.

Prime Minister Schoof lit the liberation fire this afternoon on the main stage of the Liberation Festival in Wageningen together with Polish Prime Minister Tusk. After his speech, a smoke bomb was thrown onto the stage, after which the Polish and Dutch prime ministers were taken off the stage by security guards. "Freedom should be celebrated, with friends, family and acquaintances", Schoof said shortly before. "But don't forget: freedom should b…

The National Liberation Day commemoration in Wageningen was briefly disrupted by a protest on Monday. At least one person walked onto the 5 May square during the speech by Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans and shouted slogans. Later that day, Prime Minister Dick Schoof also had to pay the price when he stood on a podium to welcome the spectators. He had a smoke bomb thrown at him and was taken away by security guards.

Will Prime Minister Bart De Wever once again come out as a 'Southern Dutchman' when he meets his colleague Dick Schoof in The Hague on Tuesday? Probably not. But they know De Wever in the Netherlands. So he doesn't have to say it out loud.