Man charged with terror-motivated plot to stab asylum seekers in Amsterdam

Prosecutors allege that 42-year-old Marcel de G., from Vught, sought to kill one or more asylum seekers in Amsterdam-West in early April. The prosecutor told the court that he had said he wanted to carry out the attack as a form of protest, citing several incidents, including the death of 17-year-old Lisa from Abcoude. The claim was disclosed during a preliminary court hearing in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have charged De G. with attempted murder or manslaughter with terrorist intent and with possessing a firearm, a gas pistol, and two knives.

According to the prosecution, he drew police attention through his behavior near a COA reception center on Willinklaan on April 7. After being stopped, he allegedly told officers they had intervened just in time, claiming he intended to "stab multiple people."

He directed the police to the storage compartment of his scooter, where two knives were discovered. He also said he had discarded a weapon in a nearby ditch, although investigators have been unable to locate it.

De G.'s lawyer told the court that her client witnessed the aftermath of Lisa's death last year when he saw her body covered by a white sheet while working in the area. The murder of the 17-year-old is allegedly linked to 22-year-old Chris Jude, a resident of an asylum seekers' center in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, who remains the main suspect in the case.

During the hearing, De G.'s defense lawyer disputed the prosecution's claim that the alleged offenses were terrorist in nature. She also requested that he be moved to another wing of the correctional facility where he is being held. While acknowledging that he had viewed a video criticizing the asylum system, she noted that investigators found no racist content on his phone. The lawyer said her client had been dealing with personal difficulties and deteriorating mental well-being, which she argued contributed to a downward spiral in the period leading up to the incident.

Prosecutors requested that De G. remain in pre-trial detention, arguing that concerns about a potential repeat offense persist. The Public Prosecution Service said he had indicated that he continues to experience impulses to carry out the attack. The court agreed and ordered that he stay in custody. Another procedural hearing in the case has been set for September 1.