Police arrest two men in connection with explosion in Purmerend

The police have arrested two men in the investigation into an explosion on the Maasstraat in Purmerend, they reported on Thursday. A 19-year-old suspect was arrested on Wednesday in Purmerend and is suspected of direct involvement in the explosion. A 20-year-old suspect who is also from the city was arrested earlier in the same evening and is suspected of preparing "a retaliatory action," police said.

This retaliatory action was being prepared after the explosion had caused a large fire in the evening hours of Saturday leading into Sunday, said a police spokesperson. One person was seriously injured by the explosion and fire. Six homes were evacuated, and five of those are still uninhabitable.

The two suspects are in full custody and are only allowed to have contact with their lawyer. On Friday, they will be brought before the examining magistrate, who will decide on the basis of the suspicions whether their time in custody will be extended.

There were another two incidents after this explosion in Purmerend. The police told reporters about a fire after heavy fireworks were used in the Karnstraat and a short fire at a home on the Oeverlanderstraat.

Police said they have found no clues to indicate that these incidents, which all happened in close proximity to each other, are connected with the explosion on Maasstraat, which is in a different area of the city.