First public hearing against 4 men allegedly behind Tarwekamp explosion that killed 6
Today, the court in The Hague will hold the first public hearing against four men suspected of being involved in a devastating explosion on the Tarwekamp in The Hague on December 7. The blast and resulting fire killed six people, left several others injured, and destroyed five homes.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) believes that Moshtag B., a 33-year-old from Rotterdam, wanted to get revenge on his ex by setting her bridal store on Tarwekamp on fire. He recruited three others to help him and used 200 liters of petrol in the attack, the OM previously revealed.
B. and two of the other suspects - cousins from Roosendaal, Mourad B. (29) and IIyas B. (24) - are charged with murder or manslaughter and attempted murder or manslaughter, depending on whether the OM can prove that they knowingly took the risk that they would kill six people.
The fourth suspect, 33-year-old Adil A. from Oosterhout, is suspected of arson and preparing to commit arson. A.’s lawyer previously stated that A. only agreed to go along to steal valuables from the targeted address, but he backed out at the last minute. According to the lawyer, witnesses in a bar can confirm his alibi.
Prosecutors reported that the men were planning on committing the attack a week earlier, on December 1, but were stopped by authorities. During a check in a parking lot in Oosterhout, the police found jerry cans full of petrol and heavy fireworks in a van. They arrested the two men from Roosendaal and confiscated the items. The suspects were later released pending further investigation.
