AMSTERDAM, November 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The Dutch Muslim community swiftly condemned Tuesday, November 2, the killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who recently made a controversial film about Islam.

Gogh was shot and stabbed to death Tuesday while cycling on an Amsterdam street, according to police officials.

The alleged assailant, identified as having dual Dutch and Moroccan nationality, was arrested and two people were injured in a shootout with police after the attack in broad daylight Tuesday morning, police said, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The suspected gunman was shot in the leg by police while fleeing the scene. He was being treated in hospital and would be questioned later, the authorities said.

He left a note on the body of the victim, De Wit confirmed, while declining to reveal the contents.

Dutch chief prosecutor Leo de Wit said the suspect arrested at the scene was a 26-year-old Amsterdam man with dual Dutch and Moroccan nationality.

No further details were given and the police would say nothing about a possible motive.

Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen announced that a memorial gathering for Van Gogh would be held Tuesday at 8:00 pm in Amsterdam's central Dam square.

“We will show loud and clear that freedom of speech is important to us. We do not want silence, we want noise,” the mayor said, explaining that a silent march would not be in Van Gogh's character.

Such ingredients usually make it easy to conclude he was killed by a Dutch Muslim, especially in an atmosphere dominated by rightists hostile to foreigners in general, Arabs and Muslims in particular.

Fearing the killing may lead to further violence, the Dutch government also urged people not to jump to conclusions before police completed their investigations.

Moroccan organizations in The Netherlands condemned the murder and called for calm.

“Escalation is in nobody's best interest,” the Moroccan Municipal Assembly in Amsterdam said.

“I abhor his views on Islam and find them hurtful for the Islamic community, but there is no motive that can justify a murder,” added Ayhan Tonca of the Dutch organ for contact between Muslims and government.

Many commentators in the Netherlands immediately drew parallels between the murder of Van Gogh and the assassination of Fortuyn on May 6, 2002. Both men had controversial views and took part in heated political debate.

After the film was shown on Dutch television in August, Van Gogh received death threats and police stepped up measures to protect him, much against his will. The authorities stressed that Van Gogh had not contacted them about any threats made against him.

He also directed television series, wrote columns and books, and had just finished a movie about the assassination of Fortuyn.

Environmental activist Volkert van der Graaf shot Fortuyn as he came out of a radio studio. Van der Graaf later said he felt the politician, who was poised for a big win in the Dutch elections in May 2002, was “a danger” to society.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the murder.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende condemned the killing of Gogh.

He called Van Gogh “a champion of the freedom of speech” and lamented the polarization of Dutch society.

“There is a climate that sees people resorting to violence. That is worrying,” Balkenende told a press conference.

“On a day like this we are reminded of the murder of Fortuyn. We cannot resign ourselves to such a climate,” he added.