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Dutch adds $34M to budget to tackle Syria fighters

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Dutch government says it will increase its intelligence agency’s annual budget by 25 million euros ($34 million) starting in 2015 to fund efforts to prevent people from going to fight in Syria — or from committing an act of terrorism in the Netherlands when they return.

In a letter to parliament Monday, Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten said he would use “all available means” to combat youth radicalization, including freezing bank assets and revoking passports of suspects before they depart.

The Netherlands has a program where local governments cooperate with mosques to monitor jihadi fighters who return.

In a report Monday, the intelligence agency AIVD said that around 130 Dutch citizens have so far traveled to Syria to fight. Fourteen have died, and 30 have returned home.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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