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| Europe |
| Dutch PM won't speculate on 'Verdonk attack' |
| 2005-11-04 |
| It is too early to conclude an attack was carried out on Minister Rita Verdonk, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said on Friday. Speaking at the Cabinet's weekly press conference, Balkenende confirmed a "bullet trace" was found when experts examined the window of the Justice ministry office used by Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk. She was not in the office in The Hague at the time. And it is unclear when the incident actually occurred. Whether the damage to the window was accidental or intentional is under investigation, the Prime Minister said. A short time later Balkenende changed his description from a "bullet" to a "projectile" hitting the window in a "serious incident". Balkenende then echoed a comment by Economic Affairs Minister Laurens Jan Brinkhorst who said earlier on Friday: "Evidently and regrettably, elements are walking around who do not know what democracy is". It appears from this remark that Brinkhorst does not believe the damage to the window was an accident or the result of horseplay. Weapons experts attached to the Defence Ministry think a shot was fired at the office from a nearby building, RTL Nieuws reported on Thursday evening. RTL claimed that as a result of the incident, Verdonk wore a bullet-proof vest when she attended a commemoration for filmmaker Theo van Gogh on Wednesday. Muslim extremist Mohammed B. was jailed for life in July for murdering Van Gogh in Amsterdam on 2 November 2004. |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #1 Yes those elements are called islamofascists or pissed off Dutchmen. Take your pick. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-11-04 21:59 |