Hofstad terror group grenade thrower to get prison leave

Convicted Dutch terrorist Jason Walters, who has spent eight years in jail for throwing a hand grenade at police, will be allowed out on supervised leave after all, junior justice minister Fred Teeven said on Wednesday.


The minister earlier rejected Walters’ request for leave but now says he is no longer considered a flight risk.
Muslim convert Walters, who has an American father and Dutch mother, was arrested in 2004 as one of a group of young men said to have formed a terrorist organisation, known by the police as the Hofstad group.
He was convicted of throwing the hand grenade at police while resisting arrest and sentenced to 13 years in jail. That was later reduced slightly on appeal. Walters, who has since rejected Islam, was 19 at the time.
‘It is only logical that he is allowed out on leave,’ Walters’ lawyer Bart Nooitgedagt said. ‘He has rejected his earlier ideology and repeatedly offered his excuses. He is not mad and he knows if he does not come back or misbehaves his release from jail is at risk.’
Earlier stories
High Court orders another retrial for terrorism suspects
Hofstad group was a terrorist organisation says appeal court
Hofstad case must be tried again
Hofstad group not guilty of terrorism

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