300 kilos of illegal fireworks seized in Winterswijk residential area; two arrested
Dutch police discovered 300 kilograms of illegal fireworks in a residential neighborhood in Winterswijk on New Year's Eve, leading to two arrests and intense local concern. The find, classified as explosives by authorities, has prompted the mayor to consider drastic measures, including the closure of the suspects' homes.
The two suspects, a 22-year-old and a 38-year-old from Winterswijk, were arrested and taken to the arrest complex in Borne. Authorities confiscated several vehicles in connection with the illegal fireworks, which were all transported for further investigation.
Winterswijk Mayor Joris Bengevoord expressed his shock and anger following the incident. "I am deeply shocked by this," he said in a statement. "Storing such a large quantity of fireworks in a residential area is unacceptable, and we cannot tolerate it. I will do everything possible to take strong action, including exploring the possibility of closing the homes involved."
"One can only imagine the potential disaster if a fire had broken out in one of these homes. That tragedy has been avoided today," Bengevoord added. The investigation into the fireworks' origin and the suspects' intentions continues.
The fireworks were uncovered during a routine inspection of car-based fireworks displays on Nieuw Beusinkweg early Tuesday morning. Police observed professional-grade shells being fired, an action prohibited outside of regulated events. Following the discovery, further checks of nearby vehicles revealed a large stash of illegal fireworks, including linked Cobra fireworks known for their destructive power.
Police sealed off the street in a 100-meter radius for safety as Explosives Safety Teams were called to assist. Investigations led to the seizure of fireworks from five cars, prompting a larger search. In one of the suspects' homes, authorities found the 300 kilograms of dangerous fireworks.
The mayor’s frustration stems from a similar incident last year, when 300 kilograms of fireworks were discovered in a shed in another residential area. "I cannot understand why people do this. Illegal fireworks may seem fun, but they are incredibly dangerous and must not be tolerated," Bengevoord said.
A police spokesperson noted the seriousness of the find, calling it a case of explosives, and praised the swift response by officers. Authorities have yet to determine what the suspects intended to do with the linked Cobra fireworks, but the situation could have escalated quickly.
