Fight against terrorism

The fight against terrorism has become one of the most important issues in the international and national security policy. Since 11 September 2001 the government has made every effort to increase the fight against terrorism in the Netherlands.

Current threat level for the Netherlands

At present, there is a realistic possibility that the Netherlands will experience a terrorist attack. The most recent National Terrorist Threat Assessment (DTN) states that the threat level is substantial. Viewed in ascending order, this threat level is the third of four general threat levels: minimal, limited, substantial and critical. In view of the dynamics of national and international developments, it is unlikely that the general threat level will be lowered in the short term.

Why is the level 'substantial'?

The threat level for the Netherlands is ‘substantial’. The Netherlands and its overseas interests are viewed as one of the preferred targets by jihadist networks operating internationally. The film Fitna has been regarded by jihadists as a form of insult and provocation, making it their most important reason for targeting the country. It is expected that the Netherlands will remain in the jihadists’ field of vision for the time being. The jihadists’ specific attention is given to those people they consider to be responsible for the insults that have been directed at Islam.
These developments serve to keep the current level of threat in the Netherlands in the category of substantial, which means that there is a real possibility of an attack in the Netherlands or against Dutch interests. 

The composition of the four threat levels

The nature and seriousness of the terrorist threat are determined by many factors. In the Netherlands, we have four levels of ascending threat: minimal, limited, substantial and critical. The following table lists a number of factors that are used to determine the threat level. It is important to emphasise that the list is not exhaustive. It serves merely as an illustration. Each threat level should in fact be regarded as a threat range without clear boundaries. This means that variations can occur in the nature, size and background of the threat without prompting a change in the general threat level. Factors may change, but the overall assessment remains roughly the same.

Measures

Both nationally and internationally the fight against terrorism is therefore high on the political agenda. Since 11 September 2001 the government has made every effort to increase the fight against terrorism. Substantial investments in the capacity of the intelligence and security services have been made and the information exchange between the intelligence and investigation services has been improved. Much legislation has also been developed in order to be better able to combat terrorism and persecute the actors: recruiting for the jihad is now an offence, (activities of) terrorist organizations may be prohibited and information of the General Intelligence and Security Service may be used in criminal cases. 
The system of surveillance and security has been revised as a result of which adequate measures may be taken upon concrete threats. Following the attacks in Madrid the anti-terrorism policy has been further tightened up. The organization of the fight against terrorism will improve as forces are marshalled. Immediate measures are now possible in the event of an acute threat. And powers will be extended to strengthen preventive action.

Organization fight against terrorism

Approximately twenty agencies in the Netherlandsare involved in combating terrorism. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism (NCTb) was appointed to improve cooperation between all these agencies. The NCTb is responsible for:

• Analysing intelligence and other information;
• Policy development;
• Coordinating anti-terrorist security measures. 

Combining these tasks increases the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to combat terrorism.
The office of the NCTb and its staff fall under the responsibility of two ministers: the Minister of Justice (the lead minister for counterterrorism) and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. In terms of organisation and management, the office of the NCTb falls under the Ministry of Justice, in a similar way to a directorate-general.

Information is gathered, analyzed and used efficiently, there are sufficient instruments to intervene in a timely fashion and adequate security is provided for potential targets. Supplementary legislation is also being prepared to disrupt potential acts of terrorism.

Since 11 September 2001 the cooperation at European level has also been intensified to combat terrorism. In this respect the European Union has appointed a security coordinator, i.e. former State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Gijs de Vries, who must harmonize the various kinds of action against terrorism by the Member States and ensure that the police and the intelligence service properly cooperate and exchange information.

The General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD)

The General Intelligence and Security Service is mentioned separately as it plays an important role in the prevention of terrorist attacks. The service does so by gathering intelligence and promoting security measures. Since 11 September 2001the deployment in this field has been considerably expanded and more personnel has been supplied. Currently, the major part of the activities of the General Intelligence and Security Service are geared towards the fight against (Islamic) terrorism. Since 2001 several arrests of members of terrorist groups have been made at the instigation of the intelligence service. 

A bill is currently in the House of Representatives that broadens the ways in which information of the General Intelligence and Security Service may be used in criminal proceedings. Officials of the service may communicate more of the contents of their reports to the examining magistrate; a protected witness examination will be possible. The court may also include the reports of the General Intelligence and Security Service as immediate evidence. Cooperation both at international level (with fellow intelligence services) and national level is of the highest importance. At national level a joint venture between the General Intelligence and Security Service, the National Police Services Agency, the Public Prosecutions Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service has been set up to improve the fight against terrorism.

In the event of an (acute) threat

The Minister of Justice has received the so-called ‘Extended Authority’. This means that in the event of acute threats of terrorism he may also take measures in the fields of other ministers. This may concerns evictions, blocking roads, holding up train or air traffic or discontinuing telecommunications in a certain region. The Minister of Justice is also responsible for the so-called ‘disruption actions’. This means that he may deploy bodies falling under other ministries for targeted action in respect of certain potential terrorists. In addition to dealing with hotbeds of radicalisation, the Minister of Justice is also responsible for taking person-specific measures to prevent, identify, isolate and contain radicalisation and recruitment. A person who poses a potential terrorist threat is kept under observation to the extent that it becomes obvious to him and the people around him that he is the subject of state interventions. The local police try to prevent people who may intend to perpetrate a terrorist attack from carrying out their plans

Alert system

The Counterterrorism Alert System is an alert system for the government and economic sectors. It warns the operational services and economic sectors in the event of a heightened threat. This enables prior measures to be taken quickly in order to minimise the risk of terrorist attacks in the Netherlands and to limit the potential impact of terrorist acts.

The system is aimed solely at professionals who may have to deal with a terrorist threat. Nine economic sectors are currently connected to the Counterterrorism Alert System:

• Schiphol airport
• Port and petrochemical industry in Rotterdam
• Drinking water sector
• Railway sector 
• Natural gas sector
• Electricity sector
• Nuclear sector
• Municipal and regional transport sector
• Financial sector 

In time, additional sectors will be connected to the system. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism is responsible for the implementation, operation and overall management of the system.

Extension of powers

The government will also submit supplementary proposals to strengthen preventive action against attacks. For example, the government would like to use special investigation methods such as (wire) taps and observations at an earlier stage and the government would also like to improve the information position of the Public Prosecutions Department.

National Coordinator for Counterterrorism (NCTb)

On the website of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism (NCTb) you can find out more about terrorism, counterterrorism and the role of the NCTb in this area. The site also reports the current threat level for a terrorist attack in the Netherlands.