Dutch security alert: Daesh threats ongoing, taking caution demanded

Ahmed Adel

The National Bureau for Combating Terrorism and Security in the Netherlands warned on Saturday that the threats posed by the terrorist organization Daesh against the Western European countries would not end.

It called for the security forces to be vigilant and raise the alertness against the elements of the organization, fearing operations against Europe, after the losses suffered by the organization in the Middle East.

It added that the defeat of the organization in Syria and Iraq will make his followers more fierce in the extremist operations across the world, against the backdrop of revenge and the attempt to return to the international arena.

The National Office for Combating Terrorism and Security in the Netherlands, described those returning from the terrorist organization of European origin to their countries once again a “time bomb” that could explode at any time.

Since 2017, adherents of the organization have been trying to broadcast messages threatening to target the Netherlands and urging sympathizers there to carry out attacks. The Dutch government then informed the European Police Agency, Europol, that its security services traced the source of these messages and found that they are from Syria. The Netherlands participated in the international coalition forces, which have been fighting the organization there since 2014.

Dutch authorities are following the movements of Islamic militants inside the country. In 2017, Dutch police arrested 46 people on terrorism-related charges.