Posted on 11/10/2004 4:21:13 AM PST by Ginifer
Dutch police were laying siege to a house in The Hague today where an unknown number of terrorism suspects were holed up.
Three policemen were injured by a hand grenade thrown when a raid was launched on the house, officials said.
Air space over the capital was closed to small planes during the operation.
Chief Prosecutor Han Moraal said the raid was part of a “continuing investigation into terrorism,” but would not confirm whether it was related to the killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an alleged Islamic radical with suspected links to al-Qaida.
Suspects were still inside the building, Hague Police Chief Gerard Bouwman said and confirmed that police and the suspects had exchanged gunfire.
“At the moment of assault, a hand grenade was thrown at the arrest team,” Bouwman said. “It exploded and several officers were hurt.”
Mayor Wim Deetman said negotiators were trying to end the stand-off peacefully.
Several streets were cordoned off in a mostly immigrant neighbourhood near the Holland Spoor rail station, and police demanded identification from anyone wishing to leave.
The building was surrounded by police in riot gear, fire engines, and ambulances. Neighbours were evacuated under protection of police shields and taken to a local school.
Bouwman said one of the injured police officers had been briefly treated and sent home, while the other two remained in hospital, one with serious injuries.
“No vital organs were hurt, but he suffered considerable injuries,” Bouwman said.
Sylvia Cordia, 42, who lives across the street from the house, said she saw several explosions.
“I saw one policeman crumble to the ground and another was dragged away to safety,” she said, adding that the suspects shouted threats in broken Dutch when the police asked them to surrender.
“There were several people in the house, and I heard a man yelling ’I’ll chop your head off’ and yelling profanities,” she said.
A man of Asian descent wearing only boxer shorts was dragged from the building and escorted away, but police would not confirm the apparent arrest.
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. An Islamic school in Eindhoven was bombed on Monday night, and another in Uden was burned down Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Van Gogh had received death threats after the release of his most recent film about the treatment of women under Islam.
Six suspects, believed to be members of a terrorist group, are being held in custody, including the alleged killer, 26-year-old Mohammed Bouyeri, who holds dual Dutch and Moroccan nationality.
Prime Minister Balkenende said he was “concerned about the hardening climate in the Netherlands” and condemned the cycle of reprisals.
“We have to utterly reject this violence, all together, because we’re being un-Dutch,” he said.
I'm sure leftist fans of multiculturalism will blame this entirely on the evil, fascist, euro-centric police officers.
“We have to utterly reject this violence, all together, because we’re being un-Dutch,” he said.
There you go. Great idea. Just reject the violence. The terrorists that you've allowed to live with you? I'm sure they will respect that and all will be just fine.
HEY!...How can you as a correct minded person say a supected terror house? A FREEKING Grenade just got thrown out of it. If you have aquestion in your head you are not very realistic!
The Dutch are sheep to the IslamoFascist slaughter, prisoners in their own country to an invading army of moonbats.
The pathetic end to a nice little nation. Killed off by socialism, abortion, and euthanasia, the Dutch will vanish from the genetic pool of humanity, replaced by swarthy muslim barbarians.
The Netherlands, RIP
I'm not giving up on the Dutch just yet. They are pretty new to this party, and are probably in alot of shock....as were we in the days after 9/11.
Hey, Holland, welcome to the party...
DOOMED!
Aren't they always named Mohammed.
I'm surprised they didn't call it a "suspected grenade"!
On September 12, did President Bush say he was “concerned about the hardening climate in the US" and “We have to utterly reject this violence, all together, because we’re being un-American"?
Raze all the Mosques in the area and the Moslems might understand they have a problem. Not only attack the terrorists but the Mosques that support them. You can't get rid of a gang if you let their hangouts stay active.
Everyone now repeat after me.....
Islam is a religion of peace.
Islam is a religion of peace.
This doesnt' explain everything about the development of Dutch slum cities, but sometimes easy wealth leads to indolence.
Post WWII the Indonesians finally fight back and toss the Dutch out. Even the Dutch-Indonesian people, the bukenausli, are kicked out! It's at this point that a large contingent of Moslems arrives in Nederland proper.
Then more Moslems arrive. Then more and more and more until finally there are whole neighborhoods, even towns, that are all Moslem!
All the while the Dutch pretend that they have been this peaceful bunch of countryfolk, just getting along with everybody, and certainly not ever doing nasty stuff anywhere, but the Indonesians all know better!
At some point here the mullahs decide Nederland would be better off if it were organized under Islam.
Very shortly the Dutch are going to be asked to drop the facade and face up to the Islamic challenge. Will it be Batavia again, or will it be their abject capitulation to Sukarno?
I'd suggest a bunch of potheads buried in dope up to their necks are going to give in and start attending prayer at their neighborhood mosques sooner rather than later.
No doubt ethnic Dutch people will retain their euthenasia privilege ~ nay, the mullahs will encourage it.
Islam is a religion of piece(s)
Well, he's a politician and that's what politicians always say....whether they believe it or not. It wasn't long after the murder of Van Gogh when people started fighting back so to speak. Some said they had been afraid to voice an opinion about the Muslims in their country before Van Gogh's death, but not anymore.
I'm not giving up on them just yet.
What's the update on this situation?
You're comparing 9/11 with Van Gogh's murder? Come on now, lets be fair. People are definately angry over in the Netherlands and I see some folks starting to fight back.
Interesting twist on the news. Thanks
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