A 16-year-old boy from Eindhoven who was detained for preparing terrorist attacks in Belgium has been released for the time being. He can wait for his trial at home. This was determined by the judge on Thursday during the second introductory session in the court in Rotterdam.
The boy from Eindhoven was arrested in early May, together with a 20-year-old man from Arnhem. They would have prepared a number of attacks on nightclubs and police stations in Belgium. They also had plans for beheadings, they wanted to buy weapons and explosives and they wanted to go to Afghanistan to participate in jihad. That is the armed struggle against enemies of Islam.
Ankle bracelet and restraining order
The duo have been stuck for the past few months. They are now allowed to leave the cell, but there are a number of conditions attached to this. They get an ankle bracelet and have to report regularly to the probation service. In addition, they are not allowed to come into contact with other people involved in this case and they have been banned from social media. The probation service has drawn up a trajectory for both suspects to prevent recurrence and to ensure that they can continue with school.
The man from Arnhem showed remorse in court. “I’m going to grab the opportunity that’s being presented to me with both hands to make sure I stay on the right path,” he told the judge. Due to the minority of the Eindhoven resident, his session was held behind closed doors.
The arrest of the two is part of a major crime case in Belgium. In May, a group of seven people were arrested on suspicion of possibly plotting a terrorist attack. In October, the man from Eindhoven will be in court again. That is again a preparatory session.
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