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Assen Mayor Halts Pegida Protest After Police Warn of Safety Risks

A legal scholar says such last-minute bans likely would not survive in court.

Overview

  • Mayor Marco Out revoked the Pegida demonstration minutes before its 14:00 start after TCI police intelligence indicated risks to participant safety and public order.
  • The planned action included a Koran burning by Pegida leader Edwin Wagensveld outside the Assen courthouse.
  • Police expanded their presence, enforced a parking ban with towing, and cordoned areas, and a suspicious bag near the Drents Museum proved a false alarm.
  • Three people were arrested around the canceled event—two for violating an area ban and one for setting off fireworks—with all later released.
  • RUG professor Jan Brouwer said such bans are often overturned by judges, while Pegida vowed to return and the mayor called for a reassessment of allowing deliberately inflammatory tactics.