Kevin Kreuger, the current leader of the JA21 faction in Amsterdam and a city council member, was assaulted on Osdorpplein in Amsterdam Nieuw-West on Monday. He said on X that he was “beaten up by four young men” shortly after he left the AT5 debate for the municipal elections.

According to Kreuger, he intervened when the four young men threw an ice cream at a woman, after which they stormed him and beat him up. “When I said something about this, things turned grim,” he said.

Kreuger filed a police report, JA21 Amsterdam reported on X. “Under the circumstances, we are relieved that it didn’t end much worse, because it easily could have,” the party wrote.

Kreuger has not stood for re-election in today’s municipal elections and was attending the debate as a spectator.

Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema called the assault “horrific,” speaking to AT5. “The police are investigating, and I wish Kevin strength.”

The police confirmed to the broadcaster that they received a report about the incident.