THE HAGUE, 13/11/04 - Since the murder of Theo van Gogh on 2 November, various suspected terrorists and their accomplices have been arrested. An overview of the most important figures under suspicion:

Secret service (AIVD) staff member Outmar Ben A., 34, was arrested in October on suspicion of passing on state secrets to possible terrorists. Three men believed to have received the information from this Moroccan were released last week. They do remain suspects of receiving these secrets.

Sheik Abu Khaled, 43, alias the Syrian, was arrested in October 2003 and deported to Germany. He is believed to be the mentor and leader of a group of young terrorist suspects, labelled the Hofstad network. Abu Khaled is currently at large.

Abdelhamid Akoudad, a Spanish Moroccan, alias Naoufel, was arrested by the Spanish police last October for involvement in the May 2003 terrorist attacks in Casablanca, Morocco. Unconfirmed reports say he maintained contacts with the Dutch Hofstad network.

The 18-year old suspected Hofstad member Samir A., a Moroccan Dutchman, has been in custody since 30 June on suspicion of planning attacks on targets including the Lower House and Schiphol airport. In October 2003, he and four others were arrested but released again in a terrorism investigation. Samir A. also made a failed attempt in January 2003 to travel to Chechnya to participate in the Jihad there.

The 21 year old Ismael A., a Dutch Moroccan, and 19 year old Jason W. are the two men who were arrested on Wednesday following a lengthy siege in The Hague district of Laakkwartier. W. is the son of an American father and Dutch mother. His 17 year old brother Jermaine W. was arrested in Amersfoort on Wednesday. They, too, are said to be connected with Hofstad.

Mohammed Achraf, 31, an Algerian, is in custody in Switzerland, suspected of planning an attack on the Spanish national appeal court. Two suspected accomplices of his, Ziani Mahdi and Mourad Yala, stayed a few months in the Netherlands. Both are meanwhile in custody in Spain.

Achraf, according to unconfirmed reports, had direct contacts last September with Mohammed B. This 26 year old Moroccan Dutchman assassinated Islam-ritic and filmmaker Theo van Gogh nearly two weeks ago. Hofstad meetings took place regularly in Mohammed B.'s home.

Other arrested suspects are Mohammed Fahmi B., 22, also a Dutch Moroccan, and Nouredine El-F., a North African illegally staying in the Netherlands. In Mohammed B.,s Amsterdam home, police found a Jihad testament signed by El-F. According to El-F., this testament was drawn up by Mohammed B.

Home Affairs Minister Johan Remkes and Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner have reported to the Lower House that three suspected Hofstad network members travelled to Portugal in June, just before the start of the European football championship there. The Portuguese authorities at the time deported them from the country. ?