Third terrorist arrest in a week for Netherlands province Limburg

Police in the Netherlands arrested a 38-year-old Syrian man on allegations of involvement in a terrorist act, the public prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday. The arrest of the unnamed man is the third terrorism-related arrest in the Netherlands in a week, all three of which were in the Limburg province.

The 38-year-old was picked up in Brunssum this past Friday. His case was brought before a court in Rotterdam, which remanded the suspect into custody, ordering him held for at least two more weeks. The prosecutor also stated the suspect arrived in the Netherlands in 2014 as an asylum seeker and has since been granted a residence permit.

Authorities were acting on information obtained by Netherlands intelligence service AIVD in ordering the arrest. A search of the suspect’s home did not uncover any weapons or explosives. Several pieces of electronic equipment, including a laptop, mobile phones, data devices and documents were taken as part of the investigation

It was not revealed if the Syrian man’s arrest was linked to two other arrests that took place recently in Limburg. One week earlier, an 18-year-old Wanssum woman was arrested in Venray in connection with a terrorism case. Five days later a Heerlen man, aged 28, was also arrested in a terrorism investigation.

Brunssum, where the Syrian man was arrested, is also home to a NATO Allied Joint Force Command headquarters. It is one of three such NATO operational commands, according to the base’s website.