The stream of asylum seekers from Syria who have come to the Netherlands includes at least 20 people suspected of war crimes, according to a justice ministry briefing quoted in the AD.

Junior justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff has told MPs that 170 potential war criminals were investigated by immigration ministry officials last year. In 60 cases the inquiry concerned Syrian nationals and in 20 cases officials found sufficient evidence of war crimes.

The AD says Dijkhoff has declined to say whether the suspects fought for president Assad or his opponents. However, they are unlikely to have been supporters of IS, the paper said.

International treaties prevent the Netherlands from deporting war criminals to Syria but they can face prosecution here, the AD said. The Netherlands will not provide them with basic necessities to live in the hope they leave the country of their own accord.

Last year, 30 asylum seekers were given 1F status, which means they are suspected of committing war crimes. In addition to Syria, they came from Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan and Georgia.