Five of the six people arrested on their way to the start of Geert Wilders’ trial for inciting hatred and discrimination on Friday were members of a group calling itself the Dutch Self Defense Army, according to a military police spokesman.

The sixth was a member of the anti-Islam Pegida movement, the spokesman said.

The five DSDA members were travelling in several cars when they were stopped near  the court room. According to media reports, they were carrying several knives, a black jack and pepper spray.

All six have all been charged with illegal weapons possession but have since been released from custody.

According to news agency ANP, it is unclear what the group were planning to do. However, the DSDA’s website says a group of around 20 DSDA members were planning to show their support for Wilders at the first day of his trial.

They also claim the weapons taken by the police were a pocket knife and a potato peeler.

The DSDA is an extreme right wing vigilante group which says it plans to carry out uniformed patrols to ensure public safety at ‘events and in other situations which demand it.’