News item | 17-06-2025 | 16:00
The fast online radicalization of young people is a danger to national security. This is what the National Coordinator of Terrorism and Security (NCTV) writes in the half -yearly Threat image Terrorism Netherlands. The chance of a terrorist attack in the Netherlands is real, therefore the threat level remains at 4 (substantial).
National Coordinator for the fight against terrorism and security Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg: ” The speed with which teenagers and young adults radicalize online in both jihadist and right-terrorist environments, gives reason to care. Young people can eventually proceed to a terrorist act of violence. That is why the approach to online radicalization is crucial, as well as the online moderation of terrorist and extremist content by social media platforms. “
Online jihadist networks
Jihadism is the greatest terrorist threat for Europe. Just like in the second half of 2024, there have been dozens of attacks and disrupted assessment plans in Europe in recent months. Many perpetrators of these attacks act alone, although they are inspired by the Terrorist Organization Islamic State (ISIS). The attacks often took place in a simple way due to a knife attack or by driving on a crowd with many victims as a result. The attacks are mainly focused on Jewish or Israeli targets or on persons accused of the desecration of Islam.
The threat of older physical jihadist networks is decreasing. On the other hand, there is a new generation of jihadists who are part of online groups, where they come into contact with like -minded people. These online networks consist for the most part of teenagers and young adults who make, edit and distribute jihadistic content. There is a risk that persons or a group inspired by this online propaganda will proceed to a act of violence in the Netherlands. The number of minors arrested in the Netherlands in connection with terrorism has also risen in recent years.
Right-terrorist threat
Just as with jihadist youngsters, the NCTV sees a fast online radicalization of young people in right-backed online networks. This group also often concerns young people who are looking for their identity and want to give meaning to their lives. Often combined with psychiatric or psychosocial problems.
These young people easily end up in right-wing extremist groups and chats online. In these online groups, radicalization can take place quickly because extremist language is encouraged and liked. These young people come together sporadically physically and are members of multiple chat groups online, where new groups regularly arise. This makes it difficult to determine the size of these networks. By using social media and participation in online networks or groups, they come into contact with violent and terrorist content. There is a real chance that people within these groups radicalize at a rapid pace and will eventually proceed to terrorist violence.
Influence of Russian statutory threat on extremism and terrorism
There is an increasing state threat from Russia. The theme chapter discusses the consequences of the Russian threat on extremism and terrorism in the Netherlands. Russian disinformation finds resonance in the Netherlands with anti-institutional and right-wing extremists. Interactions between the Russian government or related persons and Western anti-institutional and right-wing extremists are part of that threat, but are less common in our country than in other Western countries. For the time being, the impact of those interactions on the extremist and terrorist threat in the Netherlands is limited.