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Holland ignoring ISIS activists at home will scar Western Europe

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Shantanu Mukharji
Shantanu MukharjiDec 10, 2016 | 18:25

Holland ignoring ISIS activists at home will scar Western Europe

In a swift move, the Dutch police arrested 30-year-old Jaouad, a suspected Islamic State (IS) terrorist in the port city of Rotterdam on December 9. Jaouad, a Dutch of Moroccan origin, had in his possession an AK- 47 rifle, several magazines of live ammunition, four boxes of highly explosive fireworks, several mobile phones, thousands of Euros and disturbingly, an IS flag.

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The Dutch police believe the terror suspect was planning a deadly strike at a critical establishment, likely in Rotterdam, to draw international attention and publicity reinforcing the IS cause.Rotterdam is one of the world's most important ports and no less than a dream target for Islamic states as such an assault would hit the world economy and dislocate the maritime movements of essential cargo shipments across the world. More importantly , it has huge oil reserves and Shell, the oil giant, has numerous operations here. Any assault on an oil-linked location is bound to see disastrous consequences of titanic proportions.

It's pertinent to point out that Rotterdam has around 42,000 Moroccans while Amsterdam has around 72,500. This is quite a sizeable strength in a small country like the Netherlands. Like the French and Belgian nationals of Algerian origin have been wreaking havoc in France and Belgium triggering lethal terror attacks in Paris and Brussels, Moroccans in Holland have been posing real time threats to the Dutch establishment. Fortunately, nothing disastrous has happened so far.

Anticipating a possible attack, Dutch intelligence agency, the AIVD, had stepped up surveillance leading to the prize arrest of Jaouad. The terror prowess of the Moroccans cannot be underestimated.

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In January 2002, two young men of Moroccan origin, Ahmade-El-Bakiouli and Khalq-El-Massnoui had arrived in India on tourist visas, and stayed in Kashmir's Srinagar at a house boat called Happy New Year. While their stay in the Valley, they had the audacity to attack two BSF jawans with knives, grievously injuring them. They were killed before they could inflict more physical harm on the soldiers. Besides their belongings, the investigative agencies found contacts pointing to their international links to Nepal and Bangladesh. What was more revealing was the determination and extent of indoctrination of these two Moroccans reached out all the way to Kashmir to strike at the Indian security forces oblivious of the consequences.

This was fourteen years ago. Much water has flowed since then and with the emergence of the IS, these elements of North African origin have become more emboldened and hardened in their quest to attack Western Europe.

Jaouad's arrest throws up new security challenges, particularly in this part of the world. Also, these forces with strong allegiance to IS are likely to be further strengthened - to the discontent of the security agencies.

For Holland, this arrest is a wake-up call. It now needs to safeguard its vital installations with a more focussed approach. The port in Rotterdam, Schipol International airport , Amsterdam railway station, Europol headquarters et al are some of the major locations calling for closer surveillance to preempt attacks such as those perpetrated in Brussels and Paris by the brethren of the Moroccan lot.

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Socially, Holland pursues a liberal and "humanitarian" approach towards North African minority groups showing tolerance. This policy, based on Calvinism, has not really paid dividends as proved by this arrest - when a terror suspect is carrying the IS flag rather prominently. This is also a deliberate attempt to show defiance.

Some Dutch political leaders did make some hue and cry over the possibility of growing Islamic terror activism, but to no effect. Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who spearheaded this campaign, was tried for hate speech and discrimination and remains in isolation. Another MP, Hirsi Ali (a Muslim of Somalian origin), has been vocal in warning the Dutch government time and again that it must not be complacent towards Muslims who threaten Dutch security interests. However, she too became a persona non grata. These developments necessitate that the society and so called liberal and humanitarian groups unite, cooperate and prevail upon the government for tougher measures towards a terror-free society.

We must not forget that IS inspired, misled youth see no boundaries when it comes to proliferating their ideology and terror misadventures to prove that they are still a force to reckon with.

Against this backdrop, a concerted action plan has to be drawn up to fight terror plans - be it from the North Africans living in heartland Europe or beyond its frontiers.

Last updated: December 10, 2016 | 18:25
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