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| Europe |
| Dutch soldier said to have joined militants |
| 2015-09-04 |
| [ARABNEWS] A Dutch sergeant is believed to have run away to Syria to join Daesh gunnies in the first such case involving a serving soldier in the Netherlands, defense officials said Thursday. Prosecutors have now launched a criminal investigation into the 26-year-old air force sergeant, who has not been identified. The man has been suspended from duty, and his access to all defense information revoked. It was not immediately known where he was serving and what classified military information he may have been privy to. "It goes without saying that traveling abroad and joining Daesh is unacceptable, and is also a criminal offense," Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis Plasschaert said in a statement. It is the first time that a Dutch soldier on active duty has deserted to join the forces of Daesh Death Eater group, which has captured a large swathe of Iraq and Syria since early 2014. Around 180 Dutch nationals have journeyed to join Daesh or other radical groups, according to the figures published by the Dutch security service AIVD in April. Around 20 have been killed in fighting, and 35 have returned to the Netherlands. A report by the service said there were believed to be "several hundred" gunnies in the Netherlands, and "thousands" of sympathizers. "Every case of radicalization is one too many," said Plasschaert Thursday, adding it was "disappointing" that an active soldier had run away to join the holy warriors "while their colleagues are risking their lives for the freedom of others." |
| Posted by:Fred |