Dutch police arrest five suspects for at least nine ATM robberies in Germany

Five Dutch citizens have been arrested for alleged involvement in ATM explosions in Germany. They are being held responsible for at least nine explosions on ATM’s in western Germany between December 2021 and October 2024. The suspects allegedly earned almost 600,000 euros with the explosions and caused almost 1.7 million euros in damage.

According to the prosecutor's office in the state of Hesse, the suspects are between 22 and 33 years old. Germany has requested their extradition. German authorities have also issued an arrest warrant for two other suspects who are already in custody in the Netherlands.

Dutch police searched buildings in Utrecht, Veenendaal, Maarssen, Vleuten, Reeuwijk, and Stavenisse during the German operation. Weapons, drugs, mobile phones, and possible explosives were seized during the searches.

Detectives also found cash bills with dye spots on them, these are paint spots that are released after an explosion to make the stolen money unusable.

Two of the suspects are accused of planning the explosions. Another suspect was allegedly involved in preparing the getaway car.

The NOS reported that the suspects could be tried for attempted murder due to an explosion that occurred in Frankfurt in June 2023. There has been a wave of ATM explosions in Germany perpetrated by Dutch criminals since 2015.

This is due to the Netherlands taking extra security measures at ATM’s throughout the country after a trend of explosions at cash machines had developed in the country.