The trial of six suspected terrorists in what has become known as the Piranha case, ended its first week today, with defence lawyers complaining that a key witness, sitting in a secure cabin with wig and make-up, was impossible to understand.

The witness, who is not under official police protection, told the court that the group was preparing to attack political targets in the Netherlands. They knew how to make bomb belts and wanted to buy the necessary explosives in Germany, he said. He had also been with them on jihad recruiting trips to Brussels, the witness, who is also a terror suspect, told the court.
On Thursday the Parool reported that defence lawyers made ‘mincemeat’ of a prosecution expert who said the group believed in a holy war and had isolated themselves from society because of their radical convictions. Roel Meijer admitted basing his conclusions on books and computer files found at two of the defendents’ homes. The books were mainly moderate books on Islam, Meijer admitted. The fact that suspect Samir Azzouzz watched tv every evening and did not wear Islamic dress did not fit with the image of a Muslim extremist either, he told the court when questioned.