Posted on 11/17/2004 1:12:25 PM PST by rang1995
Dutch cell linked to filmmaker's murder slipped net By Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent
BERLIN (Reuters) - European countries were on the trail of militants linked to the slaying of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for months before the murder, but lacked evidence to break up the cell until too late, security sources say.
The murder of Van Gogh, who had directed a film about violence against Muslim women, has heightened ethnic tension in the Netherlands and led to a series of tit-for-tat arson attacks against mosques and churches.
The fact that the alleged killer was known to the authorities as a suspected Muslim militant has raised questions as to whether the security services were asleep on the job.
"Probably because of lack of resources, the Dutch services didn't maintain very sure, precise, serious surveillance of this group. It's clear a mistake was made," said security analyst Claude Moniquet.
But security sources said that even though they were monitoring the cell now suspected of plotting the murder, there was little they could have done to stop them.
The cell had no name, was not engaged in terror finance or acquiring explosives, and until Van Gogh was shot and stabbed while cycling to work on November 2, it had apparently committed no crime.
"If these people had been trying to buy precursors to build bombs in their kitchen or brew sarin gas, and they had not been spotted, you would say there was a blind spot in the mirror," a European Union security source said.
"But what can you do about a bunch of guys who decide to assassinate someone?"
INTELLIGENCE FAILURE?
(Excerpt) Read more at sg.news.yahoo.com ...
Kill them first.
Sure they did. The EU funds these Islamic Nazis.
That's what happens when you treat terrorists as ordinary criminals to be apprehended by police and prosecuted by the criminal justice system.
But what can you do about a bunch of guys who decide to assassinate someone?"
A "bunch of guys"? Nothing.
A bunch of ISLAMICS? Plenty. Kick them out of the country and ban their satanic religion.
European countries were on the trail of militants linked to the slaying of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh for months before the murder, but lacked evidence to break up the cell until too late, security sources say.Too bad they didn't have a Patriot Act, eh?
That theirs is a religion of peace?
Right-o.
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