A fundraising campaign has been launched by residents of Nieuw-Weerdinge to support a local man convicted of assaulting an Algerian asylum seeker during a citizen’s arrest. The 51-year-old was sentenced by a court in Assen to 80 hours of community service and ordered to pay €400 in compensation.
The incident, which occurred in October 2023, involved the man confronting an Algerian national for allegedly stealing €40 from a delivery van. With no police nearby, the local man tripped the suspect, causing him to fall and hit his head before holding him on a bench until law enforcement arrived.
As the situation escalated, other bystanders kicked the suspect, leading to his hospitalization. The court determined that the 51-year-old man’s actions contributed to the ensuing group violence.
The fundraiser, initiated by members of a neighborhood watch app, aims to raise €13,000 to cover any legal costs. Jans Sassen, a local resident involved, explained that the app was set up by concerned villagers to keep an eye on asylum seekers passing through their area. The group monitors whether they’re just passing by or showing interest in specific areas.
Locals have been worried about incidents involving asylum seekers, such as theft and vandalism, for some time. These concerns are usually addressed by law enforcement, but they were unavailable during the October incident. Sassen expressed his frustration over the case, noting that the Public Prosecution Service dismissed it initially in 2024, only to reopen it later. “It leaves a bitter taste—one you’d need five liters of whiskey to wash away,” he said.
Sassen and others argue it’s unfair that the convicted man faces punishment while the asylum seeker and the other attackers remain free. As of March 2, the fundraising campaign has already raised over €2,000.
