Swedish man planned poison attack on Eurovision in Rotterdam in 2020
Five years ago, the Luxembourg security services foiled an attack on the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, Parool reports based on information from the Luxembourg authorities. They arrested a young Swedish man who was planning to poison attendees. His trial was this month, and prosecutors demanded 12 years in prison against him. The Dutch authorities are unaware of this case.
The Luxembourg police arrested Alexander H. at his home in Strassen on 22 February 2020. He was not yet 18 years old at the time. On his laptop, investigators found a document titled “Fun time for Eurovision 2020 - For a better and less over-accepting future.” The document was allegedly drafted by H. and a Dutch accomplice, about whom no further details are available.
The document contained detailed plans to attack the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Ahoy in Rotterdam. According to the Luxembourg authorities, H. planned to poison visitors with cyanide or ricin, create a panic with chlorine, spread gas through the ventilation systems, and make his own explosives. H. also described how he planned to infiltrate security firms in Rotterdam and block emergency exits.
The Luxembourg police found preparations in H.’s home to produce chlorine and explosives. The prosecutor demanded a 12-year prison sentence against the now 23-year-old man. The court will rule in November. H. is not in custody.
According to the local newspaper Le Quotidien, H. is a member of the neo-nazi, paramilitary group called The Base, founded by a former FBI and US Department of Defense employee. The European Union listed the group as a terrorist organization last year.
The newspaper wrote that H. is a neo-nazi who basically hates everyone except straight white men and describes himself as a “good Aryan.” The newspaper listed women, people of color, homosexuals, foreigners, and people with a different religion than his own as groups that H. harbored hatred against.
The 2020 Eurovision Song Contest was ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 edition happened in Rotterdam, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, with a much smaller audience that had to maintain social distancing.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service decided in 2020 not to prosecute the Dutch man who allegedly chatted with the H. about the attack,a spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service of Central Netherlands confirmed.
In July 2020, investigators from Utrecht questioned Florian D., who was still a minor at the time, following a mutual legal assistance request from Luxembourg. He was said to have had “lengthy conversations” with H. about various possible attacks that could be carried out in the Netherlands.
A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service said the investigation showed that D. had “no malicious intent” in the chats and therefore was not prosecuted. The decision also took into account D.’s “personal issues,” though the spokesperson could not specify what these were.
