Far right party Forum voor Democratie has kicked three youth members out of the party and suspended three others for making ‘unacceptable comments’ on social media.

Earlier this week, magazine HP/De Tijd reported that youth members, including at least one person with an official role, had been making fascist and national-socialist-fuelled statements in Whatsapp groups.

HP/DeTijd said it had been contacted by other youth members who are worried about the online chats, which include anti-semitic, homophobic and racist comments. They also said they were concerned at the lack of response from party officials about their complaints.

The party has now completed a short investigation into the claims, and said in a statement that not everyone involved was an actual member. Nor were the social media groups involved part of the FvD apparatus, the statement said.

Nevertheless, six youth members have been suspended or had their membership cancelled.

Meanwhile, an FvD member of the Overijssel provincial council has resigned from the party and joined the splinter group formed by FvD dissident Henk Otten. Chilion Snoek said he could no longer accept ‘the increasingly radicalised course’ taken by the party leadership.