Multiple Telegram groups offering explosions on demand in Netherlands

There are multiple public groups active on Telegram advertising explosion-on-demand services. For as little as €1,000, you can hire someone to set off an explosive at a front door or shoot at a facade, BNR reported after infiltrating one such group that’s been active for five years.

The broadcaster approached five “job seekers” who advertised their services on the public Telegram group “Plofkrakers en Ramkrakers,” which roughly translates to “ATM Bombers and Ram Raiders.” Four of them were willing to place an explosive at an address they didn’t know for a fee. Two said it wouldn’t be their first time.

Any questions these “job seekers” asked were mainly practical, like who would provide the explosives and organize the transport. BNR arranged a meeting with one of them, and he showed up on time and ready for the job.

Old messages showed that the group was active for at least five years. A day after BNR asked Telegram about the group, it went offline. In addition to explosions and shootings, job seekers in the group also offered services in the areas of drug trafficking, ATM robberies, fraud, and armed robberies. According to BNR, the “Plofkrakers en Ramkrakers” group was far from unique on Telegram.

Explosive attacks have been a growing problem in the Netherlands for years. Last year, there were over 1,500 such attacks targeting homes and businesses. This year’s figure is on track to break the 2024 record.

The National Police wouldn’t comment to BNR on the “Plofkrakers en Ramkrakers” group specifically, but did say that, in general, Telegram has started taking a tougher stance against crime on the platform since its owner, Pavel Duvov, was arrested in Paris last month.

“Before Duvov was arrested, nothing was done,” said Barend Frans of the Amsterdam police. “For years, the police in the Nehterlands, but also in other countries, sent all requests to Telegram, saying: those groups have to be removed. They never responded.” The situation has improved somewhat in recent weeks, but crime on the app remains a big problem, Frans said to BNR. “I think Telegram has had an incredible success story because users knew they wouldn’t respond to a police request.”

A Telegram spokesperson told the broadcaster that offering criminal services on the platform is prohibited and that Telegram removes the content as soon as it is discovered. The spokesperson also denied that Telegram ignored police requests for enforcement. "Many agencies ignored the legally mandated communication channels prescribed by European law, which meant their requests went unreceived," the spokesperson told BNR. “The only thing that changed in August was that people suddenly knew how to find the right channels.”