Threat to the Netherlands by Returning Syrian Jihadis

Dick Schoof, National Coordinator of the Fight against Terrorism said that Jihadis returning from Syria pose potential risks to Dutch society. They have been under the influence of radical groups such as Jahbat al-Nusra, and learned to use automatic weapons and home made explosives. He said that in view of their experiences and mental attitude, there is the risk of Mumbai-type attacks in the Netherlands. He was referring to the three-day terror attack in India in 2008. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/11/10/potentieel-gevaar-en-terreurdreiging-door-terugkerende-jihadstrijders-syrie/

Money Collected for Jihad in Yemen in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands and Belgium, money has been collected for the Jihad in Yemen. Also Ibrahim El Bey, a Moroccan youngster from Amsterdam who was killed last week in Yemen, was involved in this. In August, Dutch donors transferred 1,850 Euro to him. Of this, 1,460 were for the Jihad, 100 for charity and 90 for the security of the Koran school in the town of Damaj where he stayed. On the website, another Muslim called for sympathizers to contribute more money for “the Jihad against cursed Shiites.” www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/3540234/2013/11/07/Jihad-in-Jemen-bekostigd-met-Nederlandse-giften.dhtml

Amsterdam: Eight Policemen Wounded by Scottish Soccer Fans

On The Dam, Amsterdam’s main square, 8 policemen were wounded by Scottish soccer fans from the Celtic team. They came to Amsterdam for the Champions’ league game between their club and Ajax Amsterdam. The fans attacked the policemen with bottles and clubs. One policeman was unconscious. All 8 had to be brought to a hospital. In total, 39 people were arrested, they were partly Ajax fans and partly Celtic fans. http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1441/Ajax/article/detail/3540257/2013/11/06/Acht-agenten-gewond-bij-rellen-in-Amsterdam.dhtml

Dutch Military Plane Shoots at Air Force Control Tower

A Dutch air force pilot mistakenly aimed at the wrong target. He had to shoot with the canon of his F-16 at a target on a remote beach. He missed and instead hit a control tower of the Dutch air force. In that control tower, the controllers have to watch air traffic and ships passing, so that Dutch military planes can run exercises in safety. This is not the first time the control tower was hit. In 2001, it was hit by bullets from a German airplane and in 1992, a Danish F-16 fired rockets at it, wounding a non-commanding officer. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/11/Straaljager-schiet-per-ongeluk-op-controletoren-Vlieland-1403034W/

Dutch Volunteer Dies in Yemen Fighting

A Dutch man of Moroccan origin, Ibrahim El Bey died in Damaj in Yemen during battles between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. He was in Yemen in order to study at the Salafist Theological School Dar al-Hadith. In the Nasr Mosque in Amsterdam, a special meeting was arranged for friends and acquaintances of El Bey. Apparently, additional Dutchmen are studying at this school. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/11/Nederlander-om-het-leven-gekomen-bij-gevechten-in-Jemen-1403048W/

Dutch Postal Authority Issues Stamp with Purple Pete

Next week the Dutch Postal Authority PostNL will issue a series of 5 stamps on the occasion of the Sinterklaas holiday. Black Pete will show up on a stamp as Purple Pete. However, PostNL denies that this has anything to do with the United Nations Commission investigation on whether Black Pete is an expression of racism. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2680/2013/article/print/detail/3537231/Paarse-Piet-op-geurende-Sinterklaaspostzegel.dhtml

Council of Europe Criticizes Dutch Policy of Asylum Seekers

The European Committee for Social Rights has decided that asylum seekers who have finished their legal procedures to remain in the Netherlands, cannot be put on the street without the Dutch state taking care of them. This committee is part of the Council of Europe and reacted to a complaint by the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. The committee said that people who do not have a permit to remain in the Netherlands risk serious and irreparable damage to their lives when they are excluded from housing, food and clothing. Therefore, the state has to take all possible measures to supply them with their basic needs. Spokesperson of Deputy Minister Fred Teeven called the judgment of the committee “non-binding and preliminary.” The Deputy Minister said that the committee’s opinion has extraordinarily undesirable consequences. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3536712/2013/10/31/Nederland-mag-asielzoekers-niet-op-straat-zetten.dhtml