Anti-terrorism coordinator warns protecting people from attacks is becoming harder

It has become increasingly challenging to protect people and objects from attacks, a spokesperson for the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) has said after receiving questions about the recent reports of threats being made against politicians. It is unclear whether these threats have worsened or changed.

The monitoring and security system is designed to safeguard people from attacks. The Royal and Diplomatic Protection Service, a branch of the police, handles part of this responsibility, including providing security for politicians. The overall monitoring and security system has an annual cost of over 300 million euros.

The spokesperson would not go into detail regarding developments in the threats against politicians. He referred to earlier reports by the NCTV, which stated that online radicalization of young people is a threat to national security. The likelihood of an attack has been set at “realistic” for a while now.

According to the NCTV website, the cases handled by the system have grown increasingly “complex, prolonged, and severe” in recent years. As a result, the government is reforming the system to make leadership responsibilities clearer.

Political parties were hesitant to answer questions from the ANP regarding their safety this week. Several parties fear that media reports about threats can also result in more threats.

The NCTV understands this line of thinking: “Occasionally, ill-intentioned individuals may be inspired if they hear through the media that a threat might exist.” However, the organization notes that media coverage can also heighten public vigilance, making people more likely to report suspicious activity.