Victims frustrated suspects in devastating fireworks explosion have yet to stand trial
It’s been over 18 months since a firework bomb caused significant damage in the Groningen village of Midwolda, and the three main suspects have yet to stand trial, much to the frustration of the victims. “I think it’s terribly sad that we have to wait so long and that we still can’t get closure on this,” victim Gerda Krult old RTV Noord.
The explosion happened shortly after New Year’s celebrations last year, at around 1:00 a.m. on 1 January 2024. It shook the village to its foundations, shattering dozens of windows and badly damaging multiple homes and cars. Several people were injured by flying glass, and locals were left in shock.
The authorities quickly determined that the blast was caused by a massive fireworks bomb detonated on Anna Maria Horalaan, across the street from Gerda Krult’s home. The police identified and arrested nine suspects, including the resident of the house in question, his son, and a friend of the son’s. They were the main suspects and were in custody for a few weeks. The other suspects played a lesser role.
Over a year and a half later, the trial against the three main suspects is still not on the court’s agenda. It may not even happen this year, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) told RTV Noord.
The Midwolda locals are very frustrated about how slow everything is moving. “We all want to tell our story. To look those people in the eye. They need to know what they did to us,” Krul told the broadcaster. “It haunts you every day. When you step outside, you see the house where it happened. We even put up a fence so we wouldn’t have to look at it when we’re in the garden. We even considered moving.”
A spokesperson for the OM told RTV Noord that they intend to try the case as quickly as possible. “We, too, consider this an important case with significant impact on those involved. We’re only dependent on the courtroom space,” the spokesperson said. “Priorities are considered when scheduling cases. Sex crimes, juvenile cases, and 6WVW cases [causing traffic accidents through negligence] are scheduled first. Furthermore, the suspects are not in pre-trial detention. This means that this case is not being prioritized in the court’s scheduling.”
The OM hoped to conclude the case against the three main suspects by the end of 2025, but so far, the court’s schedule does not allow for this. The other six suspects are already done. One was offered community service in a settlement agreement, and the cases against the others were dropped because their role was too minor or there was insufficient evidence.
