Dutch Muslim school bombed

2004-11-08 13:01

The Hague - A suspected bomb blew the front door off a Muslim school in a southern Dutch town overnight and shattered windows across the street, days after a suspected Muslim radical killed a Dutch filmmaker, police said on Monday.

No one was reported injured in the 03:30 attack on the elementary school, which was empty.

Police suspected it was a retaliation for last week's murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a suspected Islamic radical, said spokesperson Cees Dekkers in Eindhoven, about 120km south of Amsterdam.

The Tarieq Ibnu Zyad Islamic school sustained substantial damage inside, he said.

The school is run by the Islam Centre al-Fourqaan foundation, which oversees Eindhoven's al-Fourqaan mosque. The mosque was frequented by two Muslim youths killed in Kashmir in an alleged suicide attack on Indian troops. The school also suffered a minor attacked a year ago.

Eindhoven Mayor Alexander Sakkers was meeting later on Monday with parents of students.

"It is essential that we stick together," he told journalists. "One person who pulls off such an idiot act" should not affect Dutch society.

"Eindhoven is shocked, very shocked, by a cowardly deed in the middle of the night, when normal citizens are sleeping," he said.

Police to guard Islamic sites

Sakkers said police would be guarding Islamic sites, while investigators determine the cause of the blast.

Internal Ministry spokesperson Frank Wassenaar said the government had spoken to local authorities about whether more security was needed following Van Gogh's slaying, but said "there is no indication that local police cannot deal with this themselves".

Van Gogh's killing on Tuesday shocked the Netherlands, and sparked several other attacks including two weekend attempts to burn down mosques. Dutch Interior Minister Johan Remkes has said the killing should not be blamed on the Muslim community.

Ten suspected Islamic extremists have been arrested in connection with the murder of Van Gogh, who in August released a film, "Submission," critical of how women are treated under Islam. Two suspects have been released.

Among those arrested was Mohammed Bouyeri, 26, suspected of killing the filmmaker and having links to a terrorist group, police said.

Mainstream Muslim groups condemned the killing, but nevertheless have been the target of anger in the Netherlands.

Vandals threw red paint Saturday night on a social centre that helps Muslim immigrants in Amsterdam.

- AP