Alderman wants to speak to 'terrorists'

2 March 2005

AMSTERDAM — Amsterdam Integration Alderman Ahmed Aboutaleb has asked to be allowed to speak to the young men arrested for allegedly threatening to kill him.

Aboutaleb has raised the issue with the public prosecutor in charge of the case against the detainees, who are alleged members of the suspected terrorist network Hofstadgroep.

But Aboutaleb said he does not want to talk to Mohammed B., the man arrested for the brutal murder of Theo van Gogh last November. B. is also alleged to have links to the Hofstadgroep.

The Labour PvdA alderman said he wants to talk with the other suspects to find out what instigated their actions. “The world is so beautiful, why do they close themselves off?”

Aboutaleb is not confident that he will be able to talk with the detainees because they have refused to talk with anyone so far, newspaper Het Parool reported on Wednesday.

There are 12 alleged members of the Hofstadgroep currently being held by police. Some of them have been accused of planning the murders of MPs Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Geert Wilders. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen and Aboutaleb were also allegedly threatened.

Subject: Dutch news

Alderman wants to speak to ‘terrorists’