The main suspect in the Tarwekamp explosion stalked, threatened, abused and hacked his ex-girlfriend GA for more than nine months before he blew up her bridal fashion store. This became apparent on Monday during the sixth preparatory court hearing in the court of The Hague. The explosion, which killed six people, was the end of a period in which Moshtag B., who grew up in Roosendaal, did everything to make her life miserable.
He checked, called, texted and observed GA everywhere. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), even up to a hotel in London. “I will destroy everything you love,” Moshtag B. texted her, because he couldn’t accept that their relationship was over.
He further threatened to send private photos to her relatives. He also hacked her phone until two days after the explosion to monitor what she was doing, writes Broadcasting West.
Wedding dresses sprinkled with gasoline
The idea to destroy her bridal fashion store arose a few months before the explosion of December 7, 2024. Moshtag B. called in Adil A. (34) from Oosterhout and cousins Mourad BT (30) and Ilias B. (25) from Roosendaal.
A first attempt to set the place on fire failed. On December 1, the cousins were caught by the police in Oosterhout. They had jerry cans containing two hundred liters of gasoline with them. But because they were released quickly, the attack was successful a week later. They entered the bridal shop in the early morning of December 7, sprinkled the wedding dresses with gasoline and lit them.
How much gasoline was used
TNO and the NFI have investigated the amount of petrol used in the attack. At Monday’s hearing it became clear that the report is ready.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, this shows that ‘it has been scientifically established that to cause an explosion with this force, at least twenty to 45 liters of petrol are required’. This does not mean that this is also the amount used.
According to lawyer Feride Tosun, who represents Mourad BT, her client has said from the start that much less gasoline was used to cause the explosion. “The client never wanted the entire building to collapse. If it turns out that less gasoline was used, the murder charge should also be dropped.”
But the Public Prosecution Service does not agree with that. “It is still a very large amount of gasoline.”
Verdict in January 2027
The substantive hearing of the lawsuit over the explosion is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 4. Before then, there are two more preparatory sessions. The court says that the ruling will be in January 2027.
