The National Anti-Terrorism and Safety Coordinator has expressed concerns about potential terrorism from groups protesting wind turbines being built in Groningen and Drenthe.
Translation by Traci White
According to the organisation, opposition campaigns seem likely to turn violent and may result in “threatening behaviour, intimidation and vandalism.” Proponents and opponents of a wind turbine farm in the Veenkolonien, the former peat bog and penal colonies, have butted heads for years: opponents are concerned that the turbines will disrupt the landscape and create noise pollution.
Dagblad van het Noorden reports that the latest report from the Anti-Terrorism Coordinator warns of the potential for “wind turbine terrorism” due to the likelihood of protests against the turbines turning violent. According to the report, threats have been made against pro-turbine advocates, farmers with land where the turbines would be located and companies that would be involved in building them.
A number of farmers in Groningen and Drenthe have started using metal detectors on their property after protestors hid pieces of metal in their fields in an attempt to damage farm equipment.
Jan Nieboer, a member of the anti-turbine groups Platform Storm and Tegenwing Veenkolonien told RTV Noord that he is not surprised to hear that the anti-terrorism agency has issued this warning. Nieboer says he anticipates that there will be similarly extreme countermeasures like those which occurred in the French departments of Drôme and Ain: when wind turbines were being erected there, activists set them on fire.
Photo source: Public Domain Pictures
