In Europe, does "Asian descent" sometimes mean "SW Asia"?
(*&~#$ the politically correct for effectively taking "Oriental" out of the lexicon.
The Dutch have experienced over a dozen arson fires since the arrest of the murderers of Theo Van Gogh, the film producer. It will be educational to watch the Nederlands respond to terrorism on their turf.
You got to laugh at these Europeans. They never stop attacking Israel for defending itself against literally thousands of murders or decades by these terrorists. Yet, one little Van Gogh gets stabbed and they go ballistic, burning down schools, etc.
Wonder what they'd do if they had a bus bombing everyday? You think they'd show 'restraint' and stop the 'cycle of violence'?
Hypocrites!
There is no reason listed for air space being shut down, but it sure is interesting to watch the Dutch respond to terrorism. I wonder if the USA will ever develop a hair trigger response such as this.
Nov 10, 2004
Three Police Officers Injured by Hand Grenade in Terrorism-Related Raid; Air Space Closed Over City
The Associated Press
"THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Suspects holed up in a house under police assault Wednesday threw a hand grenade, injuring three officers conducting the terrorism-related raid.
Hague public prosecutor Han Moraal said the raid was part of a "continuing investigation into terrorism," but would not confirm it was related to the Nov. 2 killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an alleged terrorist.
Suspects were still inside the building, Hague Police Chief Gerard Bouwman said at a press conference. Authorities also closed air space to small planes over the city.
Several city blocks were cordoned off in the mostly immigrant neighborhood near The Hague's Holland Spoor train station, and police demanded identification from anyone trying to leave the area.
The explosion occurred as police raided the house during an operation they said was conducted on behalf of national prosecutors. Gunshots were heard.
Two police officers were hospitalized in serious, but not life-threatening condition, and one was treated and released with minor injuries, police spokesman Frans van Rijnswou said.
The building was surrounded by police in riot gear, fire engines, ambulances and swat teams.
Photographers on the scene showed images of a man of Asian descent being dragged from the building clad only in boxer shorts and escorted away. Police would not confirm an arrest.
Van Gogh had received death threats after the release of his most recent film that was critical of the treatment of women under Islam.
Six suspects, believed to be members of a terrorist group, remain in custody, including the alleged killer, 26-year-old Mohammed Bouyeri, who holds dual Dutch and Moroccan nationality.
There have been more than a dozen arson attacks in the Netherlands against churches and mosques since Van Gogh's killing in Amsterdam more than a week ago."
AP-ES-11-10-04 0413EST
Leni
Ping.
They don't use always the same tactic. Belgium, November 9, 2004 :
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1275840/posts
In Holland Pim Fortuyn went from 0 to 33% in one year, after having gathered the most votes in the Rotterdam elections.
They murdered Pim Fortuyn, five days before he would participate for the first time in the national elections.
Two and a half years later they are so afraid of Pim Fortuyn, that directing a film about him (Theo Van Gogh) is enough to be sentenced to death.
In the case of Pim Fortuyn a green activist in defense of animal rights was used to cover-up the murder.
In the case of Van Gogh they don't have to use this kind of fantasy : the muslim suspect is just a good reason to provide protection to mosques 24 hours a day with police. The protection that was denied to Van Gogh.
-" Authorities would not confirm whether the raid was connected to an investigation into possible terrorist suspects,"
...because it was completely unnecessary...
By Anthony Deutsch Associated Press Writer
Published: Nov 10, 2004
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Special forces overpowered two suspected Islamic extremists Wednesday after a daylong armed standoff, adding to Dutch concerns that global terrorism has spread into their corner of Europe.
Police said five more suspects were detained in two other cities on a day that possible links emerged between the Muslim militant charged with murdering a Dutch filmmaker a week ago and terrorists allegedly involved in attacks and plots in Morocco and Spain.
The drama in The Hague, known as the City of Peace for the international peace institutions based here, was tied to what officials called coordinated raids on "a network of radical Muslims" and it resulted in three police officers and one suspect being wounded.
The bloodshed began when police tried to force their way into a house in the Laak working-class neighborhood at 2:45 a.m. and a suspect threw a grenade, seriously injuring an officer, authorities said. esulted in three police officers and one suspect being wounded.
The bloodshed began when police tried to force their way into a house in the Laak working-class neighborhood at 2:45 a.m. and a booby-trap bomb exploded, seriously injuring an officer, authorities said. Gunshots rang out and a suspect threw a grenade out the front door, witnesses said.
Hundreds of police and soldiers converged on the district behind the Hollands Spoor railway station and police helicopters hovered above as neighbors were evacuated. Eight to 10 gunshots were heard after 4 p.m., and then black-masked troopers fired tear gas and stormed the house just before nightfall, arresting two suspects, one of whom had been shot in the shoulder.
Police said a third suspect was arrested in Amersfoort and four were detained in Amsterdam in related operations.
Ethnic tensions have been high in the Netherlands since the Nov. 2 slaying of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh, who had criticized Islamic fundamentalism.
Six suspects, believed to be members of a radical Islamic terrorist group, are in police custody in connection with the murder, including the alleged killer, 26-year-old Mohammed Bouyeri, who holds dual Dutch and Moroccan citizenship.
The Geneva newspaper Le Temps reported Wednesday that a terrorism suspect jailed in Switzerland, Mohamed Achraf, had telephone contact in September with Bouyeri.
Achraf's alleged group of Spanish-based Islamic extremists is suspected of plotting to bomb the National Court in Madrid, a hub for anti-terror investigations, as well as other targets.
Le Temps also said Achraf wired money from Switzerland to two purported Islamic militants in the Netherlands, Ziani Mahdi and Mourad Yala, who were later arrested on terrorism-related charges in Spain. Yala is believed to have met with Bouyeri several times in Amsterdam, the report said.
The Madrid newspaper El Pais said Tuesday that Spanish and Dutch police suspect Yala and Mahdi of having links with Samir Azzouz, who was arrested in the Netherlands in June for allegedly planning to bomb a major Dutch landmark. Azzouz, in turn, was friends with Bouyeri, according to Dutch officials.
Meanwhile, a Spanish police official said one of the other suspects in Van Gogh's killing was in contact with a Moroccan named Abdelamin Akoudad, who was arrested in Spain in October 2003 at Morocco's request as part of its investigation into bombings in Casablanca that killed 32 people.
AP-ES-11-10-04 1851EST