European intelligence services are concerned about the iron guard August 27 and 28. They share a document from a research group working with the US government, which catalogs the Ypres event as a far-right threat. The Ypres council of aldermen, which authorized the event, is now reviewing the matter. These are the newspapers The newspapaer et Gazet van Antwerpen who provide the information.
This gathering is held as part of theice cream guard, the radical version of the pilgrimage to the Yser, this traditional gathering of Flemish nationalism. Since 2003, the most radical wing of the Flemish movement has created a dissident movement, on another date.
In recent years, theiron wake became more and more radical. Last year, for example, neo-Nazi Tomas Boutens, who was sentenced to five years in prison, was there with a stand of his Thule project, which he wants to develop into the biggest neo-fascist movement in Flanders, reports the two dailies.
This year theiron wake seems to go further in its radicalization, by organizing a music festival with “identity” groups on Saturday evening before the event itself on Sunday afternoon, under the name of Frontnacht.
This festival is likely to attract neo-Nazi sympathizers from across Europe.