Friday, 26 September 2014 - 13:19
Live a "normal life" despite terror threats: Justice minister
According to Minister of Security and Justice Ivo Opstelten people should continue living a normal life despite the terror threats.
"Everyone should just live normally, normally go do the things that are necessary. Normally go to the movies, to football, to the city. By subway, by bus, by train." the Minister said today prior to the Ministerial Council.
The security services are taking the necessary measures, according to the minister. The cabinet expects that the risk of attacks against the Netherlands will increase as the country is now participating in the fight against the terrorist movement ISIS. The security services are on extra alert regarding safety in the Netherlands. The chances of an attack on the Netherlands is real, but there is no specific threat.
Minister Plasterk of Internal Affairs said today that the security services has been scaled up and is paying extra attention to the ISIS threat. Additional people have been involved in this and other matters have been left to a later date, Het Parool reports.
Students preparing themselves for a career in the armed forces at the ROC-programs must no longer take anything to school that is recognizable as Defense, such as backpacks with camouflage print. This is applicable for students at the Defense Training - Security and Craftsmanship of ROC Friese Poort as well as the Security and Defense College in Nieuwegein.
Soldiers were advised yesterday by the Ministry of Defense to not travel on public transport in uniform for the time being. This advice is in response to a video message from a Dutch jihad fighter earlier this week in which he warned about "a firm action against the Dutch government". Belgian soldiers have received the same advice.
Belgium sent six F-16's and associated personnel to Iraq to contribute in the fight against ISIS. The Netherlands sent eight F-16's, two of which are backup devices.