ZOETERMEER, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch national intelligence agency said Tuesday that threats targeting the Netherlands are increasingly connected to worldwide turmoil, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Although the number of terror attacks across Europe has been down in recent years, the General Intelligence and Security Service in its annual report said the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the destruction of a Quran outside parliament last year are “trigger events” for extremists.
“The terrorist threat is serious at this moment,” the agency’s director-general, Erik Akerboom, told The Associated Press.
Akerboom said he is particularly concerned about big events, noting that the agency is working closely with French authorities to prevent incidents during the Paris Olympics this summer.
In December, the Dutch counterterrorism agency increased the country’s threat alert to its second-highest level because of concerns about the Islamic State group’s Khorasan affiliates, Akerboom said. IS-K, a Central Asian affiliate, was responsible for the attack at a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people in March.
Heavy rains lash UAE and surrounding nations as the death toll in Oman flooding rises to 18
Lugo pitches 7 crisp innings as the Royals beat the White Sox 2
Kirill Kaprizov helps Wild end Kings' eight
Labour accused of setting 'unrealistic' short
CPC to implement Party discipline education campaign
China generates over 32 zettabytes of data in 2023
Connor McDavid becomes 4th in NHL history with 100 assists as the Oilers rout the Sharks 9
National political themes will lead off the campaign for Pennsylvania's next attorney general
China generates over 32 zettabytes of data in 2023