THE HAGUE, 6 November 2004 — The first results of an investigation into the murder of controversial Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, whose suspected assailant has ties to radical Islamists, point to a “terrorist conspiracy,” prosecutors said yesterday.
Seven people with ties to Islamic groups in The Netherlands, including the alleged murderer, are to be charged with involvement in a terrorist conspiracy over the killing of Van Gogh and with plotting to kill Dutch liberal politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Amsterdam public prosecutor said.
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm vowed after a meeting of all Cabinet ministers yesterday to fight Muslim extremism.
The suspect in Van Gogh’s murder, identified in Dutch media as Mohammed B., is a 26-year-old with dual Moroccan and Dutch nationality.
Police said he was arrested shortly after he allegedly shot and stabbed Van Gogh while the filmmaker was cycling in Amsterdam Tuesday. The suspect has so far refused to speak to investigators, prosecutor Leo de Wit said.
A letter left on the body of Van Gogh threatened Somalian-born Hirsi Ali because it said she had turned away from Islam, as well as Amsterdam’s Mayor Job Cohen whom it said had pitted Jews against non-Jews.
After Mohammed B. was arrested the police apparently found a letter in his possession that revealed he expected to die a martyr to his faith, “baptized in blood”.
Zalm said the government saw new developments in Muslim extremism “where thoughts are translated into blood and murder”.
“We cannot tolerate this,” he added.
The government has decided to set aside extra funds for the intelligence services. They will also see if current legislation needs to be changed to make it easier to crack down on radical Muslims who use violence.
The suspect in Van Gogh’s murder will appear before a judge Friday at a prison hospital near The Hague. The judge will have to rule if he can be remanded in custody for a longer period.
A 26-year-old resident of Amsterdam, Mohammed B. seems to have turned to radical Islam gradually.
The prosecutor said he was in contact with the other six people held on terrorism charges, prosecutor De Wit said.
He said none of these men, arrested Wednesday after the police conducted searches in Amsterdam, are Dutch nationals. They are all of Moroccan or Algerian origin, although the police would not provide any more details of their nationality.
They are charged with “participation in a criminal organization with terrorist aims” and “terrorist conspiracy”, de Wit said. Two other men arrested Wednesday have been released without being charged.
De Wit said prosecutors’ are investigating whether the men were part of a larger network.
According to the Dutch intelligence service there are between 100 and 200 Islamic extremists active in the country who try to recruit immigrant youths for the jihad.
Mayor Cohen of Amsterdam called on the intelligence services to work together with local authorities to fight Muslim extremists.
“As mayor I want to know what goes on in my city. I want to know who is engaged in recruiting for jihad,” he said.
The mayor stressed that he would not hesitate to close down mosques if evidence showed they were inciting hatred.
