Yeşilgöz: signals in advance about farmers’ protest at the home of Minister Van der Wal

There were no signs of physical threat, but there were signs of unrest, Yeşilgöz says. The minister would not say anything about what measures have been taken in this regard. “You see some measures, a lot you don’t.” Earlier, the police indicated that there were no indications of a demonstration at the home of Minister Van der Wal.

A few dozen farmers came to Van der Wal’s house on Friday evening to protest against the cabinet’s nitrogen policy. The police then came by. Van der Wal spoke briefly with the farmers:

According to Yeşilgöz, the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) received signals from the police and security services that something was coming.

Sufficient measures?

Because these were signals related to public order, the responsibility lay with the local triangle. In the event of a physical threat, the NCTV would have taken measures, says the minister.

Member of parliament Hanneke van der Werf (D66) wonders whether the measures were sufficient. After all, they did not prevent Van der Wal from entering into discussions with the farmers. According to Yeşilgöz, that situation can always arise, ‘even if you had three police houses in front of the door’.