A DUTCH terror suspect held by Scotland Yard is allegedly linked to the Islamist gang blamed for the murder of the film-maker Theo van Gogh, a court was told yesterday.

Rachid Belkacem faces extradition to the Netherlands over claims that he “maintained contact” with the Hofstad group suspected of responsibility for the murder of Mr van Gogh.

The film-maker and news- paper columnist was murdered on an Amsterdam street last November. He had received death threats after his film Submission outraged Muslims with its accusations that Islam condoned violence against women.

Mr Belkacem, who was arrested in Whitechapel, east London, on Wednesday, is also alleged to have discussed a suicide attack and been involved in recruiting for Jihad in the Netherlands.

Bow Street Magistrates’ Court was told that Mr Belkacem left Holland for Britain in January. Two months later police raided his home in the Netherlands and found guns, ammunition, video tapes and computer files suggesting Jihad recruitment.

Rosemary Fernandes, appearing for the Dutch Government, said that Mr Belkacem, 32, “is committed to the Jihad movement and we say he is a Muslim fundamentalist”. She said that the offences in the extradition warrant were alleged to have occurred between January 1 last year and January 16 this year.

Miss Fernandes said: “He allegedly maintained contact with suspected persons involved in the organisation of terrorist acts, namely the Hofstad group suspected of being responsible for the murder of Theo van Gogh.”

She said that while Mr Belkacem, a Dutch citizen, was in the Netherlands “it is alleged he made remarks suggesting the commission of a suicide attack”. The police search of his home uncovered evidence that he had prepared or supplied fake travel papers.

During the hearing Mr Belkacem sat in the dock listening to an Arabic interpreter. He spoke very little apart from confirming his name and address.

He refused to rise to identify himself to the court and it was suggested at one point that he may have an injury to his leg. No formal explanation was given to Daphne Wickham, the District Judge, who allowed him to remain seated.

Mr Belkacem indicated that he would not agree to be extradited to the Netherlands and would fight the application. No application was made for bail but Mark Summers, his counsel, told the court that he would challenge the validity of the Dutch extradition warrant at a full hearing on July 8.

Mr van Gogh was shot as he cycled through Amsterdam. The killer then slit Mr van Gogh’s throat so deeply that his head was almost severed. His final act was to affix a five-page letter to the corpse by plunging another knife into Mr van Gogh’s chest. It was addressed to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Dutch MP from Somalia who had collaborated with Mr van Gogh on Submission.

Mohammed B, a 26-year-old Dutch Moroccan, was later arrested for the murder and has been linked by the Dutch to a militant Islamic group dubbed the Hofstad group, named after the Hague, where it was based.

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