Dutch police arrest known white supremacist in explosion plot; "Unknown substance" seized
Police in the Netherlands arrested a suspect alleged to have ties to a radical white supremacy group on suspicion he was planning to detonate explosives, according to De Limburger. The suspect was taken into custody during a raid at his home in Landgraaf at about 6 a.m. on Monday, police previously confirmed. The suspect's attorney identified his client as Daniil S., a 36-year-old originally from Latvia who was convicted in January of projecting racist statements on the Erasmus Bridge during the national New Year's Eve countdown in Rotterdam at the end of 2022.
Police said an "unknown substance" was found during the raid on Stationsstraat on Monday morning. They brought in experts in "chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear substances" to assist in the investigation, as well as the Dutch military's explosives ordnance disposal team. Investigators have not revealed what they found in the home.
"The items found will be further investigated by the Netherlands Forensic Institute," police said later that day. Firefighters and paramedics were sent to the scene as a precaution, and six homes evacuated in the apartment complex were declared safe by 7 p.m. A heavy police presence remained with the investigation continuing on Tuesday. Police refused to answer further questions in the ongoing investigation.
The suspect's attorney, Lars Langenberg, also confirmed the arrest but refused to comment to De Limburger. He said S. was being held in restricted custody. This means suspects are only allowed to communicate with their legal team, and often that a gag order prevents those involved in the case from discussing it.
Daniil S. was convicted in 2025 for projecting extreme-right statements on the Rotterdam bridge during the televised New Year's celebration. He and co-defendant John A. from Zwijndrecht were also convicted of projecting similar messages on the City Hall buildings in Alkmaar and Eindhoven a few months later. These include a phrase popularized by neo-Nazi David Lane known as the "14 Words," and also "White Lives Matter," which was reportedly popularized by the Ku Klux Klan in 2015.
White Lives Matter has since developed into an extreme-right movement. Other statements projected on the buildings include "Keep Lampegat white," referencing a nickname for Eindhoven, and "Vrolijk Blank 2023," which translates roughly as "Happy White 2023," but using a word for the skin color which has been criticized for promoting a racial stereotype.
The two were sentenced to six months in prison for group insult, incitement to discrimination, and hate speech. "Freedom of expression goes far, but it comes up against a limit," the court said. The case is being appealed.
S. was also convicted in 2023 for the assault of a Black man in 2021, with racial discrimination considered an aggravating factor in the case. The victim and his wife took down a discriminatory sticker S. placed in public, which led to the abuse. S. was given a suspended sentence of 29 days in jail by the District Court in Breda, and served 80 hours of community service, according to De Limburger.
Suspects typically have to appear before an examining magistrate within three days of an arrest should prosecutors wish to keep the person in jail. An arraignment is usually held two weeks later in a district court for serious criminal offenses.
