Four jihadists identified; Netherlands freezes assets

Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs has added four Dutch jihadist to the national terrorist list and has frozen their bank accounts, ANP reports. According to the cabinet, these four jihadists have joined terrorist groups in Syria or Iraq. Koenders feels that the freezing of assets is a powerful measure. "It is good that we use it, because as co-perpetrators or accomplices, these fighters contribute to the relentless violence in the region. They also represent a potential risk after return to the Dutch society", he said. A total of 19 people have been added to the national terrorist list since the end of 2013. In January the government stated that about 180 Dutch jihadists had traveled to Syria and Iraq. 35 of them are believed to have returned to the Netherlands, and 21 of them are believed to have died. The Turkish army yesterday announced on the Ministry of Defense website that they arrested five Dutch citizens at the Turkish-Syrian border. The report did not state whether these Dutch citizens were planning to join an Islamist terrorist group. The National Coordinator for Counter-terrorism and Security did not confirm these arrests.