A man who committed an attack on an apartment complex under construction in Oosterhout has almost set himself on fire. Camera images in the Insporing Verzocht program show that the attacker is putting down a jerry can in the complex on the Bredaseweg and that the man almost merges into the flames a few seconds later. Yet he could get away. On the complex, two failed attempts for arson had already been made.
The explosion in which the man almost set himself on fire was recorded on camera images early in the morning on June 23. The man puts down the jerry can, wants to take something out of his pocket but is then surprised by a gigantic explosion.
Waiting for privacy settings …
In the two days before, an attempt was made to start a fire. That is why cameras were placed, but that did not stop the two boys from causing an explosion.
After the huge bang and the fire that then broke out, the attackers managed to flee in the direction of the Wilhelminalaan. Nevertheless, the police suspect that the man who was in the sea of fire did not get rid of it without color.
‘Hair or eyebrow scorched’
“Perhaps a part of his hair, clothing or eyebrows has been scorched,” says police spokesman Marilou Stillekes in Opsporing Verzocht.
The front door of one of the apartments that are being built on the Bredaseweg was quite damaged by the explosion. The frame was out and the glass was pierced and cracked.
The apartment complex has long had the attention of the municipality and investigation services. Destruction took place several times and a fire was started.
In June last year, acting mayor Frans Backhuijs van Oosterhout intervened by closing the site for six weeks. The construction stopped due to the attacks.
Fireworks bomb
Three months after the explosion, on 25 and 26 September, it was striking again at the apartment complex under construction. Then a man who arrived on his own threw a firework bomb in the direction of the complex from the Nieuwe Bouwlingstraat.
The fireworks bomb kicked away and exploded near the facade. There was no fire after the explosion. According to the police, it is lucky that no people live in the apartment complex yet, because it could have ended differently.
The police are investigating why this apartment complex is the target time and time again of an attack and asks people who know more or recognize the suspects to report.
Local residents rather told Omroep Brabant that they think the actions are directed against the contractor who is building the houses.