3 months Ago
Suspension and Association's Response
The GNSV said the suspect, who was not a board member, had been suspended while legal proceedings continued. The association said in a statement that it had been "astonished" to learn that a member had been taken into custody "for alleged preparation of a severe violent act." The group says it is conservative-nationalist, but has in the past drawn criticism for its links to the far-right.
Links to Extremist Associations and Previous Controversies
Authorities said the suspect confessed to being a member of several far-right and white nationalist organisations, including Geuzenbond, which is active in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is known for recruiting young people and promoting extremist right-wing ideology. The GNSV alone has its controversial history. In 2022, a fight broke out between its members and protesters at Radboud University's introduction fair, for example. The same fair's booth from the past year needed to be patrolled by private security.
Arrest and Investigation Details
The arrest was made in Badhoevedorp, a village between Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. Prohibited firearms and ammunition were also found during a search of the suspect's home. The search, which was carried out based on a report from Dutch intelligence service AIVD, used police units equipped with trained dogs and a camera-equipped drone. The search also centred on a BMW SUV parked at the property.
The province of Nijmegen chair, Daan Meershoek, underlined that violence doesn't form part of the democratic debate in which the association is engaged. Meanwhile, it is up in the air whether the arrest will influence the group's presence at Nijmegen's introduction week.
