There are strong indications that the two men from Roosendaal who were arrested for possible involvement in the deadly explosions in The Hague were already preparing for that attack a week earlier. Most likely, the pair, who are currently in custody, were already arrested in Oosterhout on December 1. They were in a van in a parking lot in the middle of the night with fourteen jerry cans with an unknown content, heavy fireworks, torches, a fire extinguisher and extra clothing.
The ages of the two men from Roosendaal – 23 and 29 years old – correspond to the ages of the Roosendalers who were brought to trial on Friday. Given the time of the explosions, it seems that they had already planned to drive to The Hague that night.
Van with lights on and engine running
The police discovered the van on Sunday, December 1, around a quarter past two in the morning in the parking lot of a shopping center on Zuiderhout in Oosterhout. Officers saw the vehicle with its lights on and the engine running. This was just under a week before the actual explosions in The Hague.
The two occupants were arrested for preparing a crime. They were detained for some time and interrogated. It is not clear when the pair were released again. The van and the goods have been seized.
The police in both The Hague and West Brabant do not want to comment on a possible connection between the two cases. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has not yet responded.
Six people died
The explosions at the Tarwekamp in The Hague took place at a quarter past six in the morning on Saturday, December 7. Six people were killed. It is unclear what caused the explosions. The target is said to be a bridal fashion store located on the same street. Jerry cans were found at the site of the explosions. An explosives expert said earlier against Omroep West that it is almost inevitable that they were used to ‘explode the whole thing’.
The two men from Roosendalers, like a 33-year-old man from Oosterhout and a 33-year-old Rotterdam resident who are also in custody, are suspected of arson and causing an explosion in which six people died and four were injured.
They are also suspected of setting a car on fire. They would also have previously made preparations to start a fire, according to justice.
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