Police seize rifles, rocket launchers in Croatia, destined for Den Bosch

kalashnikov riflesNo more information has yet been released about a weapons haul made in Croatia last week on behalf of Den Bosch police, which resulted in a string of raids on property and several arrests.

The haul included six rocket launchers, Kalashnikov rifles and a machine gun, Dutch media reported on Friday.

At least 13 people have been arrested, including two people from Den Bosch. However, they are not thought to be connected with terrorism, Dutch media said.

Police came on the trail at the end of last year following a tip-off, local broadcaster Omroep Brabant said. The delivery had been due around Christmas but was delayed for unknown reason.

Croatian police traced the consignment last week and found the van stuffed with weapons. The driver was a 64-year-old Dutch national who lives in Belgium. He and 10 other people were arrested in Croatia following a string of house searches.

Raids

At the same time, Dutch police raided properties in Hedel and Den Bosch and arrested their main suspect, a 42-year-old man from the city. A 38-year-old man from Den Bosch was also arrested. Guns, hand grenades, munitions and drugs were found in their homes and the two were remanded in custody for two weeks on Friday.

However, police say the men are ‘ordinary’ citizens and not Muslim extremists.

Other arrests have since been made in Belgium and more are likely to follow, police spokesman Henri van Pinxteren told Omroep Brabant.

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