Politicians who are actively involved in the ongoing debate about asylum seekers should take their security seriously, according to an email sent by the parliamentary security service to all MPs.

The ‘social unrest’ caused by the influx of refugees is making MPs more vulnerable, the security service said. ‘It is possible that opponents and supporters at meetings about refugees could confront MPs with their fears,’ the AD quotes the email as saying.

Earlier this week, junior justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff was harassed by people in the village of Oranje when he came to explain why the government had broken its pledge to limit refugee numbers in the settlement of 140 people.