Terror attack risk remains low in the Netherlands: minister

The chance of a terrorist attack in the Netherlands remains limited, justice minister Ivo Opstelten told MPs in a briefing on Tuesday.


The limited threat stems from the risk that young men from western countries will become involved in international jihadist movements and then take action against targets in the west. The recent shooting of soldiers and at a Jewish school in southern France are an example of this sort of risk, the briefing states.
The Netherlands and its citizens remain at risk because of the perceived discrimination against Muslims and the Dutch army’s role in military missions in Islamic countries such as Afghanistan.
Law
Nevertheless, radical groups in the Netherlands remain largely within the law and there is general acceptance that violence is unacceptable, the report says.
In the last quarter of 2011 there were various incidents involving Islamic, left-wing, right-wing and animal rights groups but none were serious, the report says. However a number of weapons, probably for sale, were found in the possession of an extreme right-wing group in Noord Holland.
In mid-March, a man was arrested in Amsterdam on terrorism charges. Police found a 10-metre fuse, aluminium powder and a large number of dvds with jihadist texts and images while searching his home. He was remanded in custody for two weeks.

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