Nine Dutch arrested in German bank machine bomb robbery

The suspect is believed to be part of an organized crime group behind 50 cross-border attacks that have earned more than €5 million ($5.5 million).

Using explosives to carry out machine robberies of banks is becoming increasingly common in Germany.

“The perpetrators allegedly traveled from the Netherlands to the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and blew up an automated teller machine,” the EU judiciary body Eurojust said in a statement.

“They used a crowbar to open the door and used solid explosives to destroy the machine. After stealing the cash inside, they fled in their car,” he said.

According to Dutch police, the suspects, aged between 25 and 41, were arrested in Dutch towns such as Roermond, Echt, Utrecht, Amersfoort and Suesterberg after a “massive joint search” with German police. He was arrested in a series of raids on Monday.

After a total of 15 raids in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, Eurojust said that 4 kg (8.8 lb) of explosives that had been prepared for use in further attacks were found and removed by bomb disposal specialists. said it was done.

German prosecutors said 34 attacks in Bavaria were gang-related and caused losses of 3.4 million euros and more than 4 million euros in damage.

A further 17 attacks were carried out in Baden-Württemberg, resulting in approximately €2.7 million in damage and €1.8 million stolen.

Germany is demanding the extradition of the suspects.

In 2021, Dutch and German police dismantled another gang that created a video tutorial on how to blow up cash dispensers and sold it to other robbery gangs.