Opinion

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Panic

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Parents in the little town of Weesp south-east of Amsterdam were sent a letter by the city council yesterday warning them that there had been a ‘threat’ against the town’s primary and secondary schools and day-care centres.

The letter came from the town's mayor who then refused to say any more about the nature of the threat because of ‘security considerations’.

‘We think that, thanks to the action we have taken, there is no reason to panic,’ he was quoted as saying.

So what action has been taken? According to NOS tv, schools and day-care centres have been told to keep their doors shut. Parents have been asked to be more alert and the police have stepped up their patrols.

If the mayor wanted to avoid a panic, he has hardly done a great job. Giving out such paltry information is grist to the rumour mill. And the rumours are flying.

One creche has apparently asked parents to be fingerprinted so staff can identify them - as if they don’t know them already and can read fingerprints!

Another story involves a man with a painted face being spotted hovering round schools - shades of recent terrible events in Belgium.

Some parents have kept their children home - which is quite unnecessary, says the mayor. It might be unnecessary, but under the circumstances it is quite understandable.