The Netherlands has raised its terrorist threat level to 3, indicating a ‘substantial’ risk, says NCTV, the country’s national security coordinator.
Heightened tension in the Middle East and increases in Quran burnings across several countries have prompted calls for attacks from jihadist organisations, the NCTV highlights, noting that these calls appear to have been heeded.
This is the highest level of threat reported in four years. The coordinator assured that “additional security measures” have been implemented, but did not give further details.
In France, the alert level has remained at its highest since a teacher was murdered in Arras in mid-October. Last week, a German tourist was fatally stabbed near the Eiffel Tower, NCTV reported. It also recalled that two Swedish nationals were shot and killed in Brussels a few weeks ago.
Recent attempts to attack Christmas markets in Germany have been thwarted, and in the Netherlands, persons with concrete plans for terrorist attacks were arrested earlier this year, the coordinator continued
It warned that threats come not only from the far-right but also from young individuals seeking an ideology to fulfil their “violent fantasies.”
The NCTV also reports a worrisome increase in online hate, targeting Jewish people and members of the LGBTQ+ community in particular.
