Extreme right is recruiting through social media, warns AIVD

Edwin Wagensveld with the offensive banner. Photo: By Apdency (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Edwin Wagensveld with the offensive banner. Photo: By Apdency (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
The threat of right-wing extremism is growing in the Netherlands, according to a report by Dutch security services published on Tuesday.

The AIVD found an increase in comments encouraging violence against Muslims in particular. Although these are still mainly verbal threats, the service said it is worried about its effect on the political climate.

There is an increasing risk that individuals or small groups could take to violence, the AIVD warns, as social media fosters a shift towards ‘unorganised’ right wing extremism rather than big groups.

The AIVD has also warned against what it terms ‘intellectual’ right wing extremism. It cites the alt-right movement from the United States which, it says, aims to integrate extremist ideas into Dutch society and public administration.

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