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CNN Live At Daybreak

In Netherlands, Right-Wing Politician Assassinated

Aired May 07, 2002 - 05:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the Netherlands, a right-wing politician has been assassinated. Pim Fortuyn was shot today as he walked to his car after a radio interview in the town of Hilversum. Police have arrested a 33-year-old man and right now they believe he acted alone.

Our Robin Oakley is in the Hague with more on this. He joins us live by phone -- Robin, what can you tell us?

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, Holland is in a state of shock today over the gunning down of Pim Fortuyn, the most flamboyant and most controversial figure in Dutch politics, leading the fastest advancing party, based on a tough anti-immigrant stance.

He was gunned down in the Hilversum media park last night after participating in a political chat show. Last night when I was there, his supporters were already bringing flowers, lighting candles in his memory. Today there have been tributes at his Rotterdam home. And politicians of all parties have suspended the normal political battle that would be going on because there's a general election here in Holland next week.

Initially, there were fears of a bad political backlash following the murder of Fortuyn because such a tough anti-immigrant campaigner really stirred strong feelings. He called Islamic culture backward and he was campaigning for a stop to immigration and saying Holland was full up. And those fears were worsened with some skinhead riots here in the Hague where I am today late last night.

There were real worries about politics taking on racial divisions. I think those have lessened a little bit now, but the man who the police have arrested as the suspect in the case, they say, is a 33-year-old white man who probably acted on his own.

But Dutch politicians are having to appeal for calm and decide whether those elections go ahead next week or not -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Do you know any more about the suspect?

OAKLEY: No, we've got no further details. We're hoping to hear more from the police today, but so far they haven't even announced his name. It certainly appears that he was somebody acting on his own. He was a man, witnesses said, who was wearing a baseball cap and he appeared to fire six shots directly at Pim Fortuyn. But nobody knows anything yet about his motivation. And there is a real sense of horror here that there should have been violence erupting into Dutch politics, which has traditionally been a very peaceful activity here in Holland. Nobody's ever known anything like this happen before and there are real worries now about whether there will be some kind of political backlash to help Mr. Fortuyn's party.

So Wim Kok, the acting prime minister, in deciding, meeting with other party leaders this morning to decide whether those elections have to go -- will go ahead or not, has to decide really whether it's best to let the passions subside for a little before they continue with normal political activity -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Robin Oakley reporting live for us this morning from the Hague. Thank you.

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