By Alexandra Hudson

AMSTERDAM, Oct 15 (Reuters) Dutch prosecutors will use new evidence and more stringent anti-terror laws in a trial starting today of a Dutch-Moroccan man, whose previous acquittal led to calls for a lower threshold in securing a conviction.

Samir Azzouz, who has become a household name in the Netherlands, will stand trial alongside five others on charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation, planning attacks and possessing weapons. A verdict is due in mid-November.

The 20-year-old's high-profile case has coincided with a period in which the Netherlands has agonised over the apparent failure of its multicultural model, grappled with the aftermath of a brutal political murder, and introduced tough new anti-terrorism laws as fears of home-grown terror increase.

The Dutch government has said the country faces a significant threat of terrorist attack and raised its alert level to ''substantial'' after bombing attacks in London on July 7, 2005, the second highest in a four-stage warning system.

Amsterdam-born Azzouz was first arrested in a police crackdown which followed the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004, and found with ammunition, explosives and sketches of potential target buildings at his home.

He was acquitted in 2005 of charges he planned attacks, although he received a three-month prison sentence for possession of weapons which he served.

The court ruled he had terrorist intent but his preparations including bungled attempts to create a bomb from Christmas tree lights, a plastic bottle and electric wire were so primitive they posed no real threat.

More Reuters SSC RS1248