The Dutch Terror Plot: A Cultural Motive

Abstract

It can be argued that the motive for the Dutch terrorist plot is identity-based and conducted in response to the perceived anti-Islam stance of the Dutch government. The motive behind the plot allegedly stems from a cultural conflict between the Dutch people and Muslims living in the Netherlands. Suspects have claimed that they were conducting an act against the Dutch government (Tingle & Dyer, 2018). The seven men suspected of plotting the attack were arrested in the Netherlands. The planning of the attack appeared to be in its advanced stages when the men were arrested, classifying the preparations as a level four threat (Crisp, 2018, para. 9). It appears that the suspects planned to use rifles and bomb vests and were prepared to detonate a vehicle (Crisp 2018, para. 1; Tingle & Dyer, 2018, para. 8; Wilkinson, 2018, para. 5). The leader of the group is suspected to be Hardi N., who has been convicted of attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Hardi allegedly belonged to a group of Arnhem jihadists, a radical Islamist group in the Netherlands (Crisp, 2018, para. 5; Tingle & Dyer, 2018, para. 4-5; Wilkinson, 2018, para. 5).