12 Jul 2017 | 10:17 PM UTC
Netherlands: Officials investigate IS threat against July 19 UEFA tournament
Dutch officials investigating an as-yet unsubstantiated threat found on an Islamic State online forum against the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 soccer tournament in Utrecht on July 19
Event
The Dutch counterterrorism agency (NCTV) is investigating a reported threat found online in an Islamic State (IS)-linked chat room directed against the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 soccer tournament that is set to be held on Wednesday, July 19, in Utrecht. The threat has not yet been confirmed as legitimate, and the Netherlands’ terror threat level remains at level four (out of five) as of Wednesday, July 12.
Context
Islamic State-aligned terrorists have increasingly targeted European cities in recent months, including the June 3 attack in London, the May 22 bombing in Manchester, and the April 20 attack in Paris. The UEFA Women’s Euro tournaments have attracted up to 40,000 attendees and are the premier competition in women’s association soccer.
Advice
All those attending the UEFA tournament are advised to monitor developments to the situation, to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities, and to report any suspicious objects or behavior.
