Dozens of police intervened yesterday, Sunday evening, to end a “serious clash” at a polling station set up in Amsterdam for the Turkish-Dutch voters who can vote early for the highly competitive presidential and parliamentary elections on 14 May Türkiye.

Dutch media today broadcast footage showing dozens of police officers, some in riot gear or accompanied by dogs, trying to separate the two warring sides.

The fight broke out last night, shortly before the polling station set up at the RAI convention center was scheduled to close after a row between representatives of the opposing sides, according to public broadcaster NOS.

Asked by AFP, the police said an investigation had been launched but would not comment yet.

According to NOS, citing an official who asked not to be named, it was a “serious incident.” According to an eyewitness, “there was screaming, panic and chaos.” The situation calmed down after a few hours.

Authorities did not specify between which parties a scuffle broke out.

The Turkish-Dutch community in the Netherlands has about 400,000 members, most of whom are descendants of workers who immigrated to Europe in the 1960s and 1970s.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 69, faces the most uncertain election since taking office on May 14 as he faces a united opposition front amid a crisis in the country for the first time in twenty years.

Three candidates are running against Erdogan for president, but one is considered his real rival: Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, 74, a candidate for a coalition of six opposition parties, from the nationalist right to the democratic left, dominated by the Republican People’s Parties. Party (CHP), founded by the father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}