There has been a rise in ‘suspicious acts’ close to Jewish buildings in the Netherlands, according to a new report by Jewish security organisation BLEW and quoted in Friday’s Telegraaf.

The organisation says that despite the police alertness, it has noted a ‘sharp rise in apparent preparations for an attack’, in particular in ‘suspected reconnaissance around schools, synagogues, meeting places and other buildings belonging to the Jewish community’.

BLEW chairman Dennis Mok told the Telegraaf his organisation is aware of ‘strange behaviour’ on the part of ‘unknown people’ close to Jewish interests or who try to gain access to them. Some of these incidents have been captured on security cameras, he said.

The organisation wants an increase in security measures for Jewish buildings and says police need to undergo special training.

‘Their education and experience is in most cases not sufficient for the current threat level used in earlier attacks,’ Mok said. ‘That is why we are calling for specially trained and armed police officers who can not only protect the Jewish community but themselves as well.’