Before Radicalization. Police Data on the Backgrounds of Travelers to Syria and Iraq from the Netherlands

• In Event: Improving our Understanding on how Persons are Radicalized to Terrorist Violence

Abstract

The paper is part of an ongoing explorative research project on the behavioral histories of violent extremists from the Netherlands. Data come from police sources that normally are not open for researchers. In a 2015 paper, the author, a researcher at the Dutch national police, published results on the prevalence of behavioral problems and disorders in a sample of 140 Dutch travelers. At the 2015 Annual Meeting a follow-up study was presented, highlighting initial findings from more cases. The focus is now on the role of adverse life experiences, behavioral and mental health issues in radicalization; differences here between converts and non-converts are discussed as well. For this study, we use data from police files on 347 travelers and potential travelers from the Netherlands.

Author

• Anton Weenink, National Police of the Netherlands