The Netherlands has raised its terrorist threat level partly due to a film critical of Islam by a Dutch right-wing politician, Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported Thursday.
The threat level was raised from "limited" to "substantial," the second highest of four possible levels, Dutch National Anti-Terrorism Coordinator Tjibbe Joustra was quoted as saying.
The level of "substantial" means there is a realistic possibility that a terrorist attack will occur in the country, while "limited" means the chance of such an attack is relatively slight, though it cannot be ruled out entirely.
The chance of a terrorist attack in the Netherlands has increased partly due to the angry reaction to an anti-Koran film which is to be released by right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders later this month, the paper said.
The extension of the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan until the end of 2010 also contributes to the decision, it said.
Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, which has nine seats in the lower house of the Dutch parliament, had rejected the calls from Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to reconsider the consequences before releasing the film.
Wilders has said he would release the film on the Internet if no television companies agree to broadcast it.
On Wednesday, Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen met ambassadors from 30 Muslim countries to discuss the imminent broadcast of the film, fearing strong worldwide protests.
Several Muslim countries had threatened an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the film is shown. Thirty ambassadors, based either in the Netherlands or in neighbouring Belgium, attended the meeting.
The Dutch government has twice tried to convince Wilders not to broadcast his film, but failed.
Source:Xinhua
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