Prosecutor did know about Dutch suspect tied to Eurovision attack plan

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) did know about a Dutch suspect tied to a plan to commit an attack on the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. In 2020, the OM decided not to prosecute the Dutch man who allegedly chatted with the Swede Alexander H. about poisoning visitors to the event, among other things, a spokesperson for the OM Midden-Nederland said.

In July 2020, detectives from Utrecht questioned Florian D., then a minor, after receiving a request for legal assistance from Luxembourg. He allegedly had “lengthy conversations” with H. about various attacks that could be carried out in the Netherlands.

A spokesperson for the OM said that the investigation showed that D. “had no malicious intent” with the chats and he was therefore not prosecuted. D.’s “personal problems” played a significant role in the decision not to prosecute him. The spokesperson did not specify what these problems were.

Parool reported on Monday that Luxembourg security services prevented a terrorist attack five years ago at the Eurovision Song Contest, which was scheduled to be held in Rotterdam in 2020. H. was arrested in Luxembourg in February of that year. His laptop contained a document detailing plans to poison visitors to the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam and distribute gas through the ventilation systems.

The 23-year-old Swede stood trial in Luxembourg earlier this month, where prosecutors recommended a 12-year prison sentence against him.

The municipality of Rotterdam said on Tuesday that it had not been informed about the alleged attack plans from 2020. However, a spokesperson for the Luxembourg Justice Department said that the European law enforcement agency Europol had informed the Dutch authorities. A request for legal assistance was also sent to Midden-Nederland.