Uncertainty, fear and worry dominate the residents of De Roef in Huizen, because what will the situation be like when the residents of the two homes return? For the time being, the threat at both addresses – even though the two families were already evicted at the beginning of July – is still great. This means that the municipality and the police can now offer little perspective and the concerns are growing among the residents.
On Monday evening, the municipality and the police organized a meeting for residents of the Roef and the Windvang; the adjacent street. That conversation, which lasted for two hours, showed that the tension in the neighborhood is rising. “That conversation was accompanied by the necessary emotions,” said Mayor Niek Meijer. “That’s also because it’s unclear where we’re going.”
dead serious
Let’s go back to early July. On Sunday, July 3, the residents of two homes were rushed out of their homes due to a serious threat to their homes. A week later, an explosive device went off, severely damaging one of the homes. But what became especially clear to everyone and everything is that the threat is deadly serious.
Long hovered over the market that the threat now faced. It was only much later that Meijer announced that this was probably due to a conflict in the Dutch drug circuit. An explosive went off not only in Huizen. This also happened in Tienhoven and Hoef en Haag, for example. Police say these cases are related.
New sound
Now, more than four months later, the fear is still good among many local residents. Meijer senses fear and uncertainty. A fireworks explosion or a helicopter flying overhead is sometimes a trigger for some. “With a new sound, the feeling is: ‘Oh, it won’t happen again’. That is annoying and causes unrest”, the mayor says. A number of them find support from the GGD and victim support.
The cameras in the street, the boarded-up house and the frequent police presence also continuously remind the local residents of what happened. And although this part of Stad en Lande can now be considered very safe due to all visible and invisible measures, the neighborhood is mainly concerned about the near future.
Neighborhood safety
The return of the two families has always been the commitment of the municipality. After all, they are also victims of the situation, according to Meijer and Carmen van den Bogaert, district team chief of the police. But the question that comes with that is what that means for the safety of the neighbourhood.
How real is it that another bomb is dropped and the neighborhood is startled by a bang? Last week, Meijer wrote to the politicians at Huizer that, according to the police and the Public Prosecution Service, the threat is still ‘unmitigated’. As a result, it seems that more and more people are now waiting for the return of the two families. Opinions on whether or not to return are strongly divided, according to the mayor.
However, the municipality has made this subject negotiable on Monday. As mentioned, a return has been the bet from the beginning. The mayor also understands that he cannot keep extending the closure of the two homes, because this temporary emergency measure goes right through the fundamental rights of the residents who have been brought to safety. At the end of this week, Meijer has to make a new closing decision.
Not surprised
The judge could block a new extension. This is only possible if an objection is lodged against the decision. In order not to be surprised and then have to talk to the neighborhood within a few days to see how the neighbors can come back, Meijer now wants to think about what is needed to facilitate this. He mentions the use of victim support or mediation between the residents of the two homes and their neighbors as examples.
At the moment it is difficult to offer perspective to everyone. When will the Roef be the Roef before July 3th again? That is actually only possible if the perpetrators of the threat and the attack are under lock and key, so that safety can probably be guaranteed again.
The research team is working hard on this, Van den Bogaert reports. No new arrests were made in the investigation into the explosions in Huizen, Tienhoven and Hoef en Haag. The two previously arrested suspects, a 42-year-old man from The Hague and a 33-year-old woman from Rotterdam, are still in custody.