The Public Prosecution Service (OM) in Northern Netherlands has today formulated the (preliminary) charges against five suspects in the Northern Netherlands court in Leeuwarden. The men are suspected of participating in an organization aimed at committing various terrorist crimes based on anti-institutional ideology. The organization is focused on disrupting fundamental political and constitutional structures of our country, including through violence and possessing weapons for that purpose. This particularly concerns carrying out attacks against government institutions.
The OM believes that the suspects standing trial today belong to a small extremist group willing to commit deadly violence or incite it.
Suspects
These include a 61-year-old man from the municipality of Waadhoeke, a 39-year-old man from the municipality of Sùdwest-Fryslân, and a 62-year-old and a 66-year-old man from Leeuwarden. The fifth suspect on trial, a 74-year-old man from the municipality of Gilze and Rijen, is suspected in this investigation of supplying weapons. In the eyes of the OM, he was aware of the ideology and intentions of the network. The possession of weapons is also charged against the suspects aged 66 and 39.
Anti-institutional ideology
The investigation began after a raid on October 25, 2024, at the home of the 61-year-old suspect from the municipality of Waadhoeke. Firearms and ammunition were found during this raid. The police also discovered writings indicating an extremist anti-institutional ideology. The AIVD contributed to this investigation by issuing several official reports.
Intercepted conversation
In a secretly recorded conversation, several suspects discussed plans to carry out an attack somewhere in our country during the NATO summit period, considering the tight security of the summit itself. They also talked about carrying out attacks on government officials. This conversation was one of the reasons for the suspects arrest on June 11, 2025, and for conducting several searches. During these searches, weapons, ammunition, and heavy professional fireworks were found at multiple locations.
A substance for making the deadly poison ricin was also found, including a manual on how to make it and how it could contribute to carrying out an attack.
Peoples tribunals
During the searches, items and writings were found that confirm the extremist anti-institutional ideology. A plan written by a 61-year-old suspect to overthrow the established order by force was discovered. Alleged traitors would have to be sentenced to death and publicly executed. Other suspects also had writings found, which included plans for establishing (international) peoples tribunals, swearing in sheriffs, and arrest warrants for dozens of individuals.
Eight suspects
In this investigation, a total of eight people have been arrested. Two of them were released shortly after their arrest but remain suspects. A 55-year-old man from Den Bosch is also allowed to await the substantive handling of the case in freedom. He has been suspended by the court for some time. The OM suspects him of supplying weapons to the network. At this moment, it cannot be said that he was aware of the ideology of the individuals to whom he supplied these weapons.
The court will later this evening consider whether to extend the pre-trial detention and make a decision.