The National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (Dutch Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid), abbreviated as NCTV, is the principal Dutch counterterrorism unit. It was established in January 2005 as the Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding (NCTb). The unit was enlarged and renamed in October 2012. The NCTV is under the responsibility of the Minister of Justice and Security, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, who succeeded Ferdinand Grapperhaus in 2022. In charge of civil aviation and cybersecurity safety, it also analyses terrorism threats to determine the threat level (minimal, limited, substantial, or critical) in the Netherlands. The unit works closely with the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD).

History

There has been an involvement of the unit in the investigation of Northwest Airlines Flight 253, which was an attempted in-flight bomb attack that occurred on 25 December 2009 and originated at Lagos Airport.

Heads

The head of the NCTV unit is appointed by the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations after the approval of the Council of Ministers, as every senior civil servant is in the Netherlands. The following people have served as head of the Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid unit: