The four Tilburg residents who allegedly committed an attack at the synagogue in Rotterdam in March have confessed that they were involved. This became clear on Tuesday during the first introductory hearing in the court in Rotterdam. According to the suspects, they did not know in advance that the target was a synagogue, they only found out after their arrest.
Six suspects aged between 17 and 23 were tried in the extra-secure court on Tuesday. Five of them are from Tilburg, the oldest is from Amsterdam. The case against the minor suspect is being handled behind closed doors.
Preventing a second attack
The young men are suspected of causing an explosion and attempted arson (with terrorist intent) at the synagogue on ABN Davidsplein in Rotterdam.
They are also suspected of attempting to commit an attack at a synagogue on Mozartlaan in Rotterdam.. The second attack could be prevented by ‘quick intervention by the police’, the public prosecutor explained. They were able to arrest the four Tilburg residents in a car on the night of March 12 to 13.
The executors would receive 3,000 euros for the assessment. A chat conversation would also have shown that the suspects had the addresses of the two buildings and that they took into account that the chance of being caught was high. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the executors could therefore have known that these were not ordinary residential houses.
The suspects would also have been able to see at the scene that these were Jewish buildings, according to the officer. “At the synagogue there is a large Star of David and Hebrew text on the facade.”
Didn’t know what a synagogue is
The suspects themselves say that they thought they had to place an explosive at a house in Rotterdam. According to their lawyers, virtually none of them knew exactly what a synagogue was and they had to explain this to the people of Tilburg at the police station.
The Public Prosecution Service sees the explosion as a terrorist attack aimed at scaring the Jewish population. “These are facts that have hit the heart of the Jewish community in the Netherlands and the consequences of which are still palpable,” the public prosecutor said.
No link with other attacks
The attack was claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), a pro-Iranian group. About 45 minutes after the explosion, images of the attack appeared on a Telegram channel of the organization. The group previously also claimed similar attacks in Liège, Belgium and Greece.
During the hearing, the Public Prosecution Service indicated that it saw no connection between the suspects and other incidents in the country. In March and April there were several explosions at Jewish institutions in Amsterdam and Nijkerk.
It is not yet known when the substantive case will be heard.