A 20-year-old Amsterdammer who spent a period of time with rebel forces in Syria was arrested in The Hague last week, the public prosecution department has confirmed.

The man is said to have been ‘preparing to take part in the Syrian rebellion’ and to have been carrying ‘texts calling for terrorism’, the department said in a short statement.

The department did not give any more information about the man or how long he had spent in Syria. He has been remanded in custody and is being kept in solitary confinement.

Suicide bomber

Experts think over 100 young Dutch men and women have joined up with Islamic rebels in Syria and around 10 are thought to have been killed. Last week, the Dutch counter-terrorism unit said at least one has been involved in a suicide bombing.

The Dutch security service says returnees form a danger to Dutch society because they may have been further radicalised and are immune to violence.