The Netherlands systematically ignored concrete information on terrorist threats for years. From the late 1990s, the AIVD Dutch national security service warned the government on various occasions about possible terrorist attacks, but to no avail.

Former AIVD head Sybrand van Hulst makes the allegation in ANP reporter Sander Kuypers’ book State Secret (Staatsgeheim). Mr Van Hulst says that the AIVD repeatedly issued terrorist threat alerts.

The decision to set up an anti-terrorism unit came only after the attacks on four trains in Madrid in 2004. Johan Remkes, interior minister at the time, says the picture painted by Sander Kuypers is essentially accurate.

(gsh/mw)

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