‘Terrorist suspect’ escaped during Scbiphol fire

23 November 2005

AMSTERDAM — An Algerian man, suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, is among the group of five inmates still at large following the fire at the Schiphol detention centre in late October, a news programme has claimed.

The 30-year-old man, identified only as Mustafa A., was being monitored by the Dutch security service (AIVD) prior to his escape, ‘Nova’ reported on Tuesday night. The news programme based its claim on information from anonymous sources.

Eleven people, rejected asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, died in the fire at the detention centre in the early hours of 27 October.

Another 11 inmates managed to escape during the confusion. Six were quickly recaptured, but the remaining five, including Mustafa A., have not been traced, ‘Nova’ said.

Spokespersons for the Justice Ministry in The Hague and the AIVD said they could comment on the claims made by ‘Nova’.

Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner has refused to date to give out any information about the escapees, citing their right to privacy.

‘Nova’ said Mustafa A. is included in the “terrorist databank” compiled by the AIVD and he is one of the 150 people the security service is most interested in.

The programme said A. has made use of numerous false identities in the past, and was earlier deported from Germany. The office of the national anti-terrorism coordinator (NCTb) has circulated details about A. internationally to aid in his re-capture.

But ‘Nova’ said A. was in the detention centre as an illegal alien and not as a terror suspect. This was because justice officials had not found any hard evidence linking him to terrorism. A. was opposing moves to deport him to Algeria.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news