Leroy B. (34) and Vasil B. (23) from Breda have to serve 2.5 years in prison for throwing a heavy bomb into a house on Kolfbaanstraat in their hometown. The court in Breda decided this on Tuesday.
The gigantic explosion destroyed a house on Kolfbaanstraat in Breda in February. Footage shows a man throwing a rock through a window and another man throwing a piece of fireworks inside. The entire ground floor was destroyed. All the windows were out and the back door was even in the garden.
Such explosions are almost daily occurrence in Brabant and Leroy B. (34) and Vasil B. (23) were allowed to explain in the court in Breda two weeks ago why they did that. “Sorry, sorry, it should never have happened, if I had known this, I will pay for all damages,” were the most common comments from the two. And also: ‘I didn’t know those fireworks were so heavy’.
Wrong house
The men from Breda thought their action was stupid anyway, but especially because they threw the explosive into the wrong house. A house two doors down was actually targeted. That resident was supposed to be on vacation, so the two thought no one would be home.
Poster
Leroy B. and Vasil B. had allowed themselves to be drawn into an old conflict by other men. They decided to teach the rival a lesson on the night of February 15 to 16 and throw a piece of fireworks at him.
That conflict is said to have arisen when someone insulted Vasil B.’s mother. But it was not clear in court exactly how this worked. Both men were careful to point out other criminals and kept silent about it.
According to Vasil B., he still had some ‘fireworks from friends from old and new’. But he said he didn’t know what kind of fireworks they were. In any case, the police found heavy and illegal fireworks at his home.
Considering the impact and the enormous damage, it must have been a Cobra or a home-made bomb. In the stricken house, all the windows on the ground floor were broken, the doors were dislocated or missing and there were cracks in the walls.
Go outside in pajamas
The man who lived there had already gone to work, but the lady of the house was sleeping upstairs and was rudely awakened by the explosion. In pajamas, completely disoriented, she had to fight her way out through the smoke and rubble. However, the front door was damaged and had to be kicked in by the fire brigade.
Construction workers are trying with all their might to make the house habitable before Christmas, but it is not yet certain whether they will succeed. The damage is extensive and the man and woman have therefore been living with family since the attack.
In addition to 2.5 years in prison, the men will also receive six months’ probation, which they will have to serve if they commit another crime in the next two years. In addition, they receive a location ban for the Kolfbaanstraat and they both have to pay significant compensation: both received a bill for more than 10,000 euros in material and immaterial damage.