Explosions are accompanied by increasingly heavier explosions: “Wait until things really go wrong”

The explosion at a stationery store on Beukenplein was followed by an explosion at a store of the same type at the intersection of Iepenweg and Eerste Oosterparkstraat. Both have an ATM on the outside of the store. “The ATM has been here for at least fifteen years,” said Hamid Rareie, owner of Cigo Nafas.

His windows are damaged, glass has burst and the water and gas pipes have been badly hit by the explosion. That damage is becoming more and more severe, sees criminologist Van der Kemp: “The security of ATMs is getting better and better, but it does not prevent perpetrators from carrying out explosives. The loot can be very high, which apparently remains a reason for the explosives to to do this.”

From gas method to pizza sliding method

“In the past, perpetrators worked much more precisely”, Van der Kemp begins when he describes the development over the years. Previously, gas was brought behind the front of the machine and it was lit. Security improved, after which the so-called ‘pizza sliding method’ was applied: “An explosive was slid through the money hatch, so that they could access the money.”

But in 2019, ATMs became closed at night to prevent explosions. There were indeed fewer explosions, but this also resulted in yet another new approach: “Large explosives are now attached to the machines. This sometimes causes a lot of damage, which can destroy entire facades.” A dangerous phenomenon, says Van der Kemp.

It is not the first time for Rareie, he has also been robbed in his shop before. “I can’t get this out of my head, and for the people who live above our store it gives a very unsafe feeling.” The explosives that are used are often made by themselves, says Van der Kemp: “You have to bear in mind that they are often local boys, and so there are large fireworks bombs in Amsterdam’s homes. You have to wait until things really go wrong and people are injured or even fall worse.”

According to Van der Kemp, things are going pretty well in the Netherlands in general: “You see that much more loot is taken in Germany, for example, so the loot is not the problem.” But since the corona crisis, there have been more places where robberies with money as the target are committed, the researcher notes.

The solution? It is still unclear to both men. For Rareie, one thing is certain: “I want to get out of here as soon as possible, I’m not going to take any more risks.” But according to Van der Kemp, there are two options: “Either secure even better, or move the machines.” There is something to be said for both solutions. “You can process glue bombs in the machine, so that money packages are glued together in the event of an explosion, but then the money is also useless.”

Otherwise, ATMs could be moved to places where fewer people work and live. “But they are also needed less there and debit card payment is actually less safe,” says the criminologist. It remains an issue, but according to him security works best. “In any case, ATMs should be in the store,” says Rareie. “It’s not completely safe, but at least it’s safer than it is now.”

Dangerous

Although the number of explosives attacks in the Netherlands has been decreasing in recent years, the police remain concerned. “Basically, each explosive device is one too many. It is life-threatening for residents and bystanders and entails great feelings of insecurity. An explosive attack is accompanied by extreme violence, which also entails extreme risks,” said a police spokesperson.