THE HAGUE, 05/12/08 - The terrorist threat in the Netherlands is greater than ever, according to the National Anti-terrorism Coordinator (NCTb), Tjibbe Joustra. The official threat level is still 'substantial,' but is actually "substantial with a little plus", Joustra said yesterday in an interview with newspaper De Volkskrant.

The level was raised to 'substantial' three years ago around the time of the arrest of terrorist Samir Azzouz, who wanted to make attacks on Dutch politicians. "If I compare the present threat level with the substantial threat level of three years ago, then the factors that now form the basis for this are actually stronger," in Joustra's view.

Joustra does not wish to give details of what the threat consists of. However, on 10 December, Ehsan Jami, a former Muslim who turned his back on Islam, plans to broadcast a film on the Prophet Mohammed.

In the 10-minute film ('Interview with Mohammed'), women's rights, Jews and apostasy are central, according to its 23 year old Iranian-born maker. The actor who plays Mohammed in the film is not recognisable in the picture. By what route the film will be broadcast is not yet known.

Joustra does not mention Jami's film in De Volkskrant. He actually suggests in the newspaper that the threat level is mainly the fault of Fitna, Party for Freedom (PVV) MP Geert Wilders' anti-Islam film.

Fitna was put on the Internet on 27 March. "With the Danish cartoons as well, the reactions only emerged after many months," warns Joustra. "These things can bob up again on the Internet. These are long-term processes."

Jami considers the Koran a Fascist book. He has already twice announced a film earlier but decided against it at the last minute.