‘Several’ Dutch nationals are involved in a jihad or holy war in foreign countries, the acting head of the AIVD security services has told Nos television, without giving further details.

Over the past years, several dozen Dutch men have gone to or attempted to visit countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia and several of them are still active, Jan-Kees Goet told the broadcaster.
This weekend VPRO radio quoted a UN report which said one Dutch Somali is active in the al-Shabaab terrorist movement in Somalia.
The danger these people present is either that they attack Dutch or Nato operations in risky countries or return home with concrete plans to attack their home base, Goet said. And because they have seen ‘active service’ overseas, their status rises at home, he said.
Internet remains the driving force behind encouraging young men to join a jihad, both in terms of spreading encouragement and in facilitating journeys to countries such as Afghanistan, he said.