Police search British Embassy fire suspect's home

By Zack Newmark on April 21, 2015 - 17:42
British Embassy fire in The Hague - 2015
Fire sweeps through the British Embassy in The Hague. April 21, 2015 (photo: Arjan Dekker). (Fire sweeps through the British Embassy in The Hague. April 21, 2015 (photo: Arjan Dekker))

Authorities in the Netherlands visited the home of the 32-year-old Hague resident arrested as a suspect involved in the Tuesday morning fire at the British Embassy, police spokesman Loek Houtepen told NL Times. His house was searched for evidence related to the fire, but police would not reveal what, if anything, was removed.

He is a Dutch person, and "he has a support function at the embassy," the police representative added.

The suspect will remain in custody at the police station until at least Friday, when he is taken before a magistrate. The magistrate can remand him back to jail, release him until his next court hearing, or throw out the charge against him for lack of evidence, Houtepen said.

Arson was not ruled out, although there is no indication that the fire was connected to a terrorist act, he added.

"Officially, the cause is still being determined," he said, with forensic evidence collection underway to look for any signs of accelerant. The Netherlands Forensic Institute will test the trace material collected at the scene, Houtepen stated.

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