Two men were arrested in May for trying to travel to ISIS territories 

Two 21-year-old men from Utrecht and Vleuten were arrested in May of this year on suspicion of joining a terrorist organization, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) reported. They attempted to travel to ISIS-controlled areas. The man from Vleuten is also suspected of destroying graves in Utrecht.

According to the OM, the destruction of the graves seems to be connected "with the man's ideas." A spokesperson could not explain more regarding this but did say that more than 90 graves were destroyed at the cemetery Daelwijck. Those relatives affected by the matter have been informed.

The vandalism at the cemetary took place during the overnight hours between May 4 and May 5. The first date being Remembrance Day, when the country honors those who died in wars since the outbreak of World War II. Liberation Day is celebrated on May 5, the anniversary of the Netherlands regaining its freedom at the end of the Second World War.

When the Vleuten man’s arrest was announced in July, the OM did not specify that he was the focus of a terrorism case. “The man was arrested on May 16 for other criminal offenses than the destruction of the graves,” the OM said at the time.

The man from Utrecht is currently free and allowed to await his trial. The first non-substantive hearing in the case against the man from Vleuten will be held on Monday. It will then be determined whether he should remain in custody for longer.