Tarwekamp explosion suspect confesses attack was revenge on ex-girlfriend
The suspect behind the deadly explosion at Tarwekamp street in The Hague admitted he orchestrated the attack to seek revenge on his ex-girlfriend after discovering she had been unfaithful. According to documents reviewed by NOS, 33-year-old Moshtag B. said he felt his honor had been tarnished. He told police, “I wanted to pay her back.” The trial against Moshtag B. begins this Friday, and based on police files, NOS has reconstructed the events leading up to the explosion.
Moshtag B. is accused of planning an attack on the bridal shop owned by his ex-girlfriend. The explosion, which used heavy fireworks and around 175 liters of gasoline, destroyed several apartments above the shop, killing six people. The only survivor was an eight-year-old boy who lost his entire family in the blast.
The 27-year-old shop owner, who was in London at the time of the explosion, initially had no idea who was behind the attack. She only suspected her ex-boyfriend, Moshtag B., who had recently broken up with her. During their relationship, he had lavished her with gifts and helped with her shop, but things turned sour. The shop owner claimed Moshtag became possessive and jealous, forbidding her from talking to other men and secretly reading her messages.
Moshtag B. claimed he discovered she had cheated on him, which “offended his honor.” He allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend, saying he could arrange for people to set things on fire and ruin her financially.
The attack was planned in August of the previous year, when Moshtag B. contacted co-defendant Mourad B. for a job. The two knew each other from Roosendaal, where Moshtag had grown up. Mourad B. agreed to help and enlisted his 24-year-old nephew, Ilias B., and 33-year-old Adil A. from Oosterhout, who was believed to have experience with criminal activities.
Initially, the plan was to rob the shop, destroy tiles, and spray graffiti on the walls. Moshtag B. did not tell the others it was a revenge mission against his ex, instead fabricating a different story. However, the group found the idea of stealing all the bridal dresses too cumbersome, and by autumn, the plan shifted to setting the shop on fire and destroying the dresses.
For the arson, Moshtag B. promised 1,500 euros per person. In late November, he sent Mourad B. a shopping list, including several jerrycans. Ilias B. was tasked with procuring six Cobra fireworks, powerful illegal fireworks often used in attacks. According to Moshtag, the fireworks were intended to alert the neighborhood and ensure the fire was discovered in time.
The attack was scheduled for December 1, but the police intercepted the plot. Around 2:15 a.m., officers spotted a white Ford Transit van near a shopping center in Oosterhout, with two men dressed in black. The men were identified as Mourad B. and his nephew, who had been waiting for Adil A., who did not show up. Later, Adil A. would tell police he had withdrawn from the plan due to the job being too dangerous and offering too little reward.
Upon searching the van, the police found 14 jerrycans containing 170 liters of gasoline, six Cobra fireworks, five flares, gloves, and extra black clothing. The police suspected an imminent bombing, but Mourad B. claimed he was a courier delivering gasoline to other drivers who had broken down. He explained that the fireworks were meant for New Year’s Eve, and the flares were for a PSV football match.
The two suspects spent the night in jail but were released the following afternoon after questioning, a decision that remains unclear. Despite being caught, the plot was not over. “I didn’t know they would go ahead with it,” said Adil A. in his police statement. “I thought it was over when they were arrested, but no.”
On December 6 and 7, Mourad B. and Ilias B. set out again, this time with gasoline purchased across the border in Belgium. They also bought new black clothing. Police suspect they were responsible for the explosion in the early hours of the morning.
CCTV footage shows two men walking down the street at 6:15 a.m., shortly before a massive flash and a loud bang. Meanwhile, Moshtag B. was in London, following his ex-girlfriend, who had planned a weekend trip. Moshtag claimed he was also in London for work and stayed at the same hotel to create an alibi.
In the hotel, Moshtag said he began to have doubts. He called Mourad B., asking him to call off the attack, but Mourad insisted they proceed, saying, “Let us do our work,” before hanging up.
When the shop owner learned of the explosion, Moshtag pretended to comfort her. However, she later said he didn’t seem genuinely upset. Moshtag, on the other hand, claimed he was in a state of panic. “In my mind, it was a tornado. It wasn’t supposed to go like this,” he said. After sending his ex back to the Netherlands, Moshtag fled to Dubai but returned shortly thereafter.
Following the explosion, Mourad B. and Ilias B. returned to Roosendaal by train. Adil A. was absent again, opting instead to go to a bar. He later explained to the police that he had withdrawn because the job was too risky, involved too much work, and provided too little compensation.
The police pieced together the case using surveillance footage and phone data. They tracked Moshtag B. back to the Netherlands, where they saw him disposing of trash bags containing an iPhone 15, Cobra fireworks, and receipts for the jerrycans.
Three days after the explosion, Moshtag B. was arrested by a special police unit. He immediately confessed to his involvement. Mourad B. and Ilias B. were arrested the same day, and Adil A. was apprehended a few days later.
Since their arrests, Moshtag B. and Adil A. have blamed each other for the bombing. Moshtag claims that it was Adil’s idea to set the fire, and he only followed along. Adil, however, says he tried to stop Moshtag from using such dangerous fireworks and so much gasoline.
Mourad B. has remained silent regarding his involvement, while Ilias B. denies any role, stating, “I didn’t play with gasoline and didn’t blow things up with Cobra fireworks.”
