Activists from the far-right action group Voorpost staged a protest at a newly opened reception centre for asylum seekers in the Limburg municipality of Zutendaal on Sunday afternoon. Their protest that lasted around two hours has been condemned by both the outgoing Federal Secretary of State responsible for asylum and migration Nicole De Moor (Flemish Christian democrat) and the Flemish Red Cross.
Asylum Secretary and Red Cross condemn action by far-right group at Limburg asylum centre
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Voorpost activists brandishing fireworks climbed onto the roof of the former hotel in which the centre is housed. They also forced their way into the building. They hung up posters displaying anti-migration slogans.
Since Friday 16 people have been staying at the reception centre in Zutendaal. They are five families with their children. They include a two-year-old child from Uganda, an eight-month-old baby from the Democratic Republic of Congo and an eight-year-old girl.
“Completely unacceptable”
The Federal State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor said in a statement that she strongly condemns Sunday’s protest and Red Cross Flanders also called the action "unacceptable".
Ms De Moor told journalists that "Extremists threatening children with violence and flares is really going many bridges too far. These are not the local residents with whom I had a respectful discussion earlier this week. I understand their concerns, but not this kind of violent action."
She added that the families at the centre "were very frightened by the protest. "We cannot accept this as a society. Of cause people can demonstrate and earlier this week I entered into a dialogue with local residents. However, protest by outsiders that invade a building that is being lived in by families and intimidating them is completely unacceptable.