Two arrested in Tarwekamp explosion allegedly planned attack a week earlier
Two men from Roosendaal, arrested for their alleged involvement in the deadly explosions in The Hague, were reportedly preparing for the attack a week before it occurred. The suspects, ages 23 and 29, were detained on December 1 in Oosterhout, police said.
Authorities found the pair in a van parked at a shopping center on the Zuiderhout at approximately 2:15 a.m. Inside the vehicle were 14 jerrycans containing an unidentified substance, heavy fireworks, flares, a fire extinguisher, and additional clothing, according to officials. The van’s headlights were on, and the engine was running at the time of discovery.
The men were arrested on suspicion of preparing to commit a crime. Police seized the van and its contents. The suspects were held and questioned but were later released. It remains unclear when they were freed from custody.
The December 7 explosions on Tarwekamp in The Hague killed six people and injured four others. The blasts occurred at 6:15 a.m., targeting a bridal shop located on the street. Investigators discovered jerrycans at the scene. An explosives expert previously told Dutch broadcaster Omroep West that the jerrycans were likely used to trigger the explosions.
Prosecutors said the two Roosendaal suspects, along with a 33-year-old man from Oosterhout and a 33-year-old man from Rotterdam, are being investigated for arson and causing an explosion that resulted in the fatalities and injuries. All four suspects are also accused of setting a car on fire and making earlier preparations to commit arson.
Police and prosecutors have not commented on the potential connection between the December 1 arrests in Oosterhout and the explosions in The Hague. The Public Prosecution Service has not issued a statement regarding the matter.
The timing and circumstances surrounding the arrests suggest the suspects may have been en route to The Hague on the night they were detained, authorities said. The involvement of explosives and incendiary materials in both incidents has led investigators to examine the possible relationship between the two events. However, no official link has been confirmed.
