Dutch police arrested seven people in anti-terror raids today on suspicion of plotting attacks against politicians and government buildings.
Gunshots were heard in The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government, during raids there, Dutch media reported. It was not immediately clear who opened fire or whether anyone was hurt.
The country's national anti-terror co-ordinator said people suspected of "terrorist activities" were detained and police had beefed up security at a number of government buildings, including the offices of Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in The Hague.
"Suspects were arrested in Almere, Amsterdam, and The Hague. It concerns men aged 18 to 30 and a 24-year-old woman," a prosecution spokesman said.
Among those arrested was Samir Azzouz, a teenager suspected of being a member of a terror group and who was acquitted in April of charges he planned attacks on government buildings.
"Official reports . . . indicate that (Azzouz) was looking for automatic firearms and explosives," the spokesman said. "Presumably he was preparing to carry out attacks, together with others, on several politicians and a government building."
Dutch authorities raised a national security alert last July after they arrested Azzouz and found machinegun cartridges, a bullet-proof vest, two mock explosive devices, a silencer, maps and sketches of prominent buildings in his home.
A Rotterdam court ruled there was not enough evidence to convict Azzouz for plotting bomb attacks but sentenced him to three months for illegal possession of weapons. He was freed on the day of the hearing because of time already spent in custody.