Nineth progress report on counterterrorism and Summary Terrorist Threat Assessment Netherlands 15

In the Ninth Progress Report, we discusses the progress achieved during the past six months in developing and implementing various elements of the policy on counterterrorism. In sequence, we deal with the following elements: combating radicalisation, international collaboration, the creation of effective tools and structures, the implementation of security measures, preparations for (the consequences of) a possible attack, and communication and information.

The Netherlands, and its foreign interests, is still viewed by jihadist networks operating on an international basis as one of their preferred targets. The film ‘Fitna’, regarded by jihadists as an insult and provocation, is still the most significant justification for this attitude. In this context, developments in the recent past illustrate that jihadists have been placing greater emphasis in their international propaganda on attacking Western targets than they were doing at the time of DTN 14.These developments mean that the threat level remains substantial, meaning that there is a real prospect of an attack in the Netherlands or against Dutch interests.