Cablegate: Dutch Arrest Seven in Counter-Terrorism Rai..

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002793

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI, S/CT, D/HS, INL
DOJ FOR OIA - JUDI FRIEDMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2015

TAGS: PTER PINR PINS PGOV PREL NL KPRP
SUBJECT: DUTCH ARREST SEVEN IN COUNTER-TERRORISM RAI...

42717

2005-10-14

05THEHAGUE2793

Embassy The Hague

CONFIDENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002793

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UBI, S/CT, D/HS, INL
DOJ FOR OIA - JUDI FRIEDMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2015
TAGS: PTER PINR PINS PGOV PREL NL KPRP
SUBJECT: DUTCH ARREST SEVEN IN COUNTER-TERRORISM RAIDS

Classified By: Andrew J. Schofer, Acting DCM, for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)

1. (C) SUMMARY: In the largest single counter-terrorism
action in the Netherlands since the 9/11 attacks, a newly
formed rapid intervention team arrested six men and one woman
in The Hague, Amsterdam and Almere on October 14. Among
those arrested were Jermaine Walters, the brother of
(American) Hofstad suspect Jason Walters, and Samir Azzouz, a
Dutch teenager or Moroccan origin acquitted in April of
plotting attacks on Amsterdam airport, a nuclear reactor and
Dutch governmental buildings. END SUMMARY.

2. (C) The public prosecutors office confirmed that the
sweeps netted seven suspects, including four in The Hague,
two in Amsterdam, and one in Almere. News of the arrests is
dominating local media. A press spokesperson at the
prosecutors' office confirmed to us the arrest of Jermaine
Walters, but stressed the prosecutors' office would not
confirm that information publicly. The spokesperson told
Emboff that the seven will appear in a Rotterdam court on
October 17 on charges of terrorist activities, including
planning terrorist attacks on politicians and the offices of
the Dutch intelligence service (AIVD) in Leidschendam. No
weapons have yet been discovered, according to the spokesman,
but investigations and house searches continue.

3. (C) The Office of the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator
(NCTb) ordered security tightened today around a number of
politicians, Parliament, AIVD offices, and both the Justice
and Interior Ministries. AIVD information indicating that
Azzouz was seeking automatic weapons and explosives to carry
out attacks on politicians and Dutch government buildings,
reported by the press and public prosecutors' office,
prompted the move. NCTb officials would not comment on which
politicians received additional protection. Although Dutch
intelligence reports indicated that only the AIVD building
was targeted specifically, the NCTb bolstered security at the
other sites as a precaution, according to the spokesperson at
the prosecutors office. A senior NCTb official, Ewald Riks,
told us the security would likely stay in place a few days
until the threat had been removed.

4. (C) There was some disagreement over the impact of the
arrests on the Hofstad group. National Counter-Terrorism
Coordinator Tjibbe Joustra told Charge that today's arrests,
combined with the previous arrests of some 10 suspected
Hofstad members currently on trial for their membership in
this alleged terrorist organization, meant that a substantial
part of the group was now in custody. He added, however,
that of course you never know if you have them all; it is a
very loose network. Interior Minister Remkes separately
told reporters that the threat has not disappeared but the
immediate threat has been removed, adding that despite
earlier arrests, the Hofstad group is growing in size.

5. (C) According to NCTb's Riks, no shots were fired and no
injuries were sustained in the raids, conducted by the rapid
intervention team. This was the first major use of the
combined military and police team, designed specifically for
counter-terrorism actions. The team was recently empowered
with arrest authority.

6. (C) The GONL has no plans to raise either the national
threat level in the Netherlands, currently considered
substantial, or the state of alert for any of the seven
critical infrastructure sectors included in the Netherlands'
new counter-terrorism alert system.

7. (C) The GONL told us there are no known direct threats
towards U.S. interests at this time. The Embassy and
Consulate are already in a heightened state of alert and will
maintain their current security posture. All Mission
personnel have been reminded to remain vigilant and report
any suspicious activities to the local authorities and the
RSO. Post is prepared to initiate appropriate steps should
the local threat environment change.

BLAKEMAN

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