The Dutch national intelligence agency has reported an increase in threats targeting the Netherlands that are connected to global turmoil, such as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. While the number of terror attacks in Europe has decreased in recent years, the agency warned that events like the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and the desecration of a Quran outside parliament are serving as catalysts for extremists. The director-general of the agency, Erik Akerboom, expressed serious concerns about the current terrorist threat level, especially in relation to large events. The agency is working closely with French authorities to prevent incidents during the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The report highlighted that global jihadism has been identified as the greatest terrorist threat in the Netherlands for several years. Notable incidents, like an anti-Islam activist tearing pages from the Quran in front of the Dutch parliament last April, have put the Netherlands on the radar of potential targets. In Europe, authorities successfully thwarted about a dozen terror attacks last year, with suspects being arrested in the Netherlands in four cases. However, none of these attacks were specifically aimed at the Netherlands, according to Akerboom.
In addition to the terrorism threats, the Dutch intelligence agency also views cyberattacks from China as a major concern. Akerboom stated that China is producing more hackers to infiltrate Dutch systems than the country can produce to defend against them. The security service has identified China as the biggest threat to the Netherlands’ economic security. Moreover, Russia remains a risk to the Netherlands due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The agency has pointed out that Russian sources have paid demonstrators to attend peace protests in Amsterdam calling for the Dutch to stop sending arms to Ukraine, with prefabricated slogans provided.
The Netherlands’ significance to Moscow is partly due to the presence of international institutions there, including the International Criminal Court. The Hague-based court is actively investigating crimes in Ukraine and has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russians. This has made the country a target for Russian interests. The security service in the Netherlands has raised alarms about the potential influence of Russian actors in Dutch affairs, including the manipulation of protests and dissemination of propaganda. The complexities of these geopolitical dynamics present ongoing challenges for Dutch authorities in maintaining national security and stability. With the threat landscape constantly evolving, the intelligence agency remains vigilant in monitoring and addressing potential risks to the Netherlands.
