Men who planned New Year's 2023 explosions said they feel regret due to Tarwekamp incident

Two men who are accused of planning two explosions in The Hague a year ago expressed regret for their actions in court. They confessed to their involvement and offered their apologies. “I have been affected by what has happened at the Tarwekamp,” said Divaio M. in the court in The Hague on Monday.

M. and his co-defendant, Nigel T., were accused of two incidents that took place on New Year's Eve at the end of 2023. T., said he was "deeply shocked" by the later incident on Tarwekamp in The Hague at the beginning of this December, when six people lost their lives due to an explosion at the apartment complex.

The prosecutor responded by saying that he felt the regret was not sincere. “This doesn't strike me as regret."

Homes and cars were damaged because of explosions at an apartment complex on the Wolmaransstraat and a home on the nearby Kempstraat last year. Nobody was injured, but there was significant material damage. Four men who were allegedly involved in ordering the attack were in court on Monday.

The reason for the explosions was allegedly a drug world conflict between suspect Azeddine B. and the son of one of the residents in the home. The prosecutor recommended eight years in prison against the 32-year-old B., who they see as the leading suspect when it comes to ordering the attack. The other three suspects heard recommendations of seven years in jail for being fellow suspects in the ordering of the attacks.

The whole incident was allegedly planned from prison, where B. was detained at the time on suspicion of several charges, including assaulting his partner. Fellow detainee Divaio M. (20) has admitted that he had to call somebody and pass on a message.

The first explosion in the middle of the night was supposedly done at the wrong address. This mistake had to be “made right” on the same day. That happened at the beginning of the evening. Azeddine B. can reportedly be heard angry in the background of the telephone conversation in which the second explosion was arranged.

B. has used his right to remain silent throughout the process. Fellow suspect Brulio A. (19) has also said nothing. He has said that he has memory loss after an accident on a scooter. A. allegedly arranged the explosives with 25-year-old Nigel T. and also issued the order.

An underage boy is suspected of performing the explosion with a fellow suspect who has not been identified thus far.

The court will announce its verdict on January 13.