The Netherlands’ counter-terrorism agency raised the country’s threat alert level to the second-highest on Tuesday, announcing a “substantial” risk of terrorist attacks in the country, according to AP News.
The announcement came after the European Union’s home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, warned that Europe faced a “huge risk of terrorist attacks” during the Christmas holidays against the backdrop of the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
The Dutch National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism and Security also stated that “the violent conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Quran desecrations in various European countries and calls for attacks from terrorist organisations have increased the threat from jihadism”.
Recent attacks in nearby European countries, such as France and Belgium, and arrests of suspected terrorists in the Netherlands and neighbouring nations served as reasons to raise the threat level. The report added that “the threat from right-wing extremism and anti-institutional extremism remains unabated.”
Earlier this month, a 23-year-old tourist was fatally stabbed near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The man accused of the attack is under investigation for murder and attempted murder linked to a terrorist organisation.
In October, Brussels authorities shot dead a Tunisian national hours after what they said was a shooting attack on three Swedish football fans, leaving two of them dead. The man posted a video online in which he claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that the Quran was “a red line for which he is ready to sacrifice himself.”
The counter-terrorism agency said although the threat assessment did not require specific actions to strengthen security, it “enables security partners (such as the police, municipalities and ministries) to take measures to combat the threat.”
Prior to the Netherlands, Sweden raised its terrorism alert level to the second-highest level in August after a string of Quran public desecrations sparked angry demonstrations across Muslim countries and threats from militant groups.
