Three men handed lengthy prison sentences for series of 21 explosions in Alkmaar

Three men have received lengthy prison sentences for their role in multiple explosions and attempted blasts in Alkmaar. The court also ruled that they were part of a criminal organisation. From 14 September 2023 to 12 February 2024, authorities recorded 21 explosions, arson attacks, or attempted incidents, the vast majority of them in Alkmaar. In almost every case, high-powered fireworks such as Cobra 6 were used, often combined with accelerants.

The District Court of Noord-Holland has handed down prison sentences of five, eight, and over ten years to the three defendants. The group consists of two brothers and another suspect. The brothers were involved in an ongoing dispute and are considered the driving force behind the explosions, as well as the founders of the criminal network.

The third suspect coordinated the execution of the explosions, while one of the brothers also took part in carrying them out. In one instance, the pair arranged for a minor to carry out one of the blasts.

At the time of the explosions, one of the brothers was already in custody, including for attempted manslaughter linked to the same ongoing conflict. He has now received a five-year sentence for involvement in a criminal organisation.

His brother was sentenced to eight years, partly because he was directly involved in carrying out an explosion. The third defendant received a sentence of ten years and six months after investigators found 294 Cobra 6 devices in his possession. He has also been ordered to pay 5,000 euros in damages to affected residents.

The court said the case involved “very serious offences with unacceptable risks, including life-threatening danger to people.” It added that the explosions had a significant impact on those directly involved, surrounding residents, and “the city of Alkmaar as a whole.”