Eindhoven terror suspect had sights on PM Rutte, military airbase
Information about Prime Minister Mark Rutte and military airbase Volkel was found in the home of 23-year-old Eindhoven terror suspect Hasan A., the Public Prosecutor revealed in court on Thursday. Hasan A. is standing trial on suspicion of preparing for terrorist actions, AD reports.
A. was arrested in Eindhoven last summer when he was caught driving around wearing a balaclava. When the police searched him, they found a taser, a knife and tie-wraps. They found videos ISIS beheadings on his computer, as well as collected information about Prime Minister Rutte and an air force general working at the nearby Volkel airbase. There were also photos of the airbase, with circles and arrows indicating how best to approach it.
"We found no concrete plans to murder people on A., but we suspect him of preparing for terrorist activities", the prosecutor said at the high security court in Rotterdam on Thursday.
A. was previously convicted of violent crimes. According to the prosecutor, he also tried to attack security guards while in custody. The Prosecutor believes he suffers from psychiatric problems.
Hasan A. himself accused the judiciary of "making an elephant of a mosquito". He claims he only had the videos and photos on his computer out of interest. "That is not an offense", he said. He added that he was carrying a knife because he believes that "Muslims are not safe in the Netherlands".
