Five explosions in Rotterdam takes year’s total to 136; Boy finds hand grenade in park
There were five explosions in Rotterdam on the night from Monday to Tuesday, bringing the total number of explosions in the city this year to 136, a spokesperson for the Rotterdam police told NL Times. A hand grenade was also found by a boy in a playground on Sunday.
The Rotterdam area has seen a surge in explosions at homes and businesses this year. These incidents are believed to be connected to drug trafficking, with stores and homes being particularly targeted.
The explosions on Monday night occurred in Rotterdam-Zuid and the Oude Noorden. The first explosion, around 11:45 p.m., damaged mailboxes on a porch on Noordplein.
A second explosion occurred around 1:45 a.m., destroying a porch on Charloisse Kerksingel.
Shortly after 3 a.m., explosions were reported at a residence on Dantestraat and a café on Pretorialaan.
The fifth explosion occurred around 3:45 a.m., shattering the windows of a home on Koenraadvan Zwabenstraat.
"It was definitely a busy night,” the spokesperson said. No one was injured in this series of explosions. An investigation is underway to determine if there are connections between these explosions. No arrests were made as of 12:00 p.m., the spokesperson informed NL Times.
As of September 26, the total number of violent incidents involving explosions in Rotterdam and surrounding areas has reached 136. By August 10, there had already been 104 explosions. The spokesperson said that “over a hundred people” have been arrested so far this year on suspicion of involvement in these explosions.
On Sunday evening, a 7-year-old boy discovered a hand grenade in the bushes of a playground on the Groepstraat in the Tarwewijk neighborhood. "He thought it was fake, but I believed it was a real bomb," his older brother told regional broadcaster Rijmond. "I immediately ran and took it away. I then felt it and it felt heavy, not life plastic. I then told my mother and friends to call the police."
The police arrived and secured the playground. A bomb disposal team removed the grenade, the police reported.
