An earlier case against convicted terrorist Samir Azzouz, in which he was found not guilty, must be re-examined, the High Court ruled today. The announcement follows an appeal by the justice department against the decision taken by the court in The Hague.

Azzouz was cleared of preparing a terrorist attack by The Hague court in November 2005. At the time, the court ruled did not doubt that Azzouz had the intention to carry out a terrorist attack but concluded that the preparations he had made were too elementary to prove he posed a genuine threat within the foreseeable future.
The High Court said the court in The Hague had not looked carefully enough into the term ‘preparation’. This could include the possession of objects ‘apparently destined’ for a criminal act. Whether this was the case would depend on the suspect’s intentions.
Therefore the case must be looked at again, this time by the court in Amsterdam, the High Court ruled.
The justice department claims that Azzouz possessed maps and directions to the parliament building, the Borssele nuclear plant and the AIVD head office as well as information on security at these locations. He also had notes on the use of weapons and explosives, weapons, gun cartridges, a bullet-proof vest and various other incriminating items.
Azzouz is currently serving eight years in jail for planning terrorist attacks after being found guilty on other charges at a different trial last year.