Suspects in Amsterdam explosion officially investigated for planning ATM bombings

The Public Prosecution Service has confirmed that two of the three suspects arrested after the explosion in Amsterdam-Osdorp are being investigated for allegedly causing the blast and making preparations for further explosions or ATM bomb attacks. Following reporting by Het Parool, prosecutors also disclosed on Wednesday that the pair are suspected of possessing explosives.

Het Parool reports that two of the suspects are 24-year-old Naoufal T. and 25-year-old Yassine B., also known by the alias “Gekko.” They have had their pretrial detention extended by two weeks. A third suspect, a 20-year-old man, has been released and is awaiting further investigation outside custody.

The blast, which occurred at a structure adjacent to a residential building on Osdorper Ban, left seven people injured, including two who suffered serious injuries. Among those hurt were the two suspects themselves. One of the suspects is currently in intensive care after losing a leg and an arm in the explosion. The other sustained serious head burns and shrapnel injuries to his back. Prosecutors said they would not provide further details about the injuries because of privacy considerations.

The explosion took place in a basement storage unit situated beneath the 24-hour gym, Onna 365 on Remijden. Three people were inside the gym at the time but were not injured. The blast was recorded on the facility’s surveillance cameras.

T. is the younger brother of Nousair T., who was convicted in late 2024 and sentenced to over four years in prison for orchestrating multiple ATM bombings in the Netherlands and Germany.

Prosecutors believe that a group of seven to eight young men may have been inside the basement unit preparing packages of explosives. Investigators suspect the group was dismantling illegal high-powered fireworks, including “Cobra” types, to harvest flash powder for use in ATM explosions.

The substance involved is extremely volatile and easily ignited. Around midnight, at least six of the prepared packages are thought to have exploded at the same time. According to investigators, most of them left shortly before the explosion and managed to escape the incident unharmed.

A third individual is still considered a suspect in the case, but has been allowed to remain free pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

The blast’s intensity, combined with the fire that followed, forced the immediate evacuation of over 400 residents from the apartment block above. About 100 people spent the first night in the Osdorp district office.

The annex partially collapsed as a result of the blast. While most residents were able to return after roughly 40 hours, the housing corporation has warned that complete restoration of the building will take several weeks to several months.