PH Issues Advisory After Threat Level 5 Raised in Netherlands

The Philippine Embassy in The Hague on Monday night issued an advisory for Filipinos to take precaution after Dutch authorities raised The Netherlands’ threat level to five (critical) following a shooting incident in Utretcht that killed three people and injured nine others.

The Embassy is currently in close coordination with the Dutch police and the Dutch Foreign Ministry to check if Filipinos were among the casualties.

Meanwhile, the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, sent its thoughts and prayers to the Dutch people and government over their loss in the shooting.

“The Philippines is greatly saddened that such an incident has occurred in a peaceful country such as The Netherlands,” it said.

The incident took place at about 10 a.m. local time near 24 Oktoberplein junction in Utrecht, according to reports. While investigation is ongoing, a “terror motive” is not excluded, Utrecht Mayor Jan van Zanen said.

“We cannot exclude, even stronger, we assume a terror motive. Likely there is one attacker, but there could be more,” van Zanen was quoted by local news as saying.

The incident occurred days after the deadly mass shootings in New Zealand, which were perpetrated by two gunmen who stormed two mosques in Christchurch, killing 50 and injuring 50 others. (PNA)