Several dozen soldiers in the Dutch army are also members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang which the public prosecution department is trying to ban, the defence ministry confirmed on Friday. The Volkskrant newspaper made the claims.

The spokesman said military officials are trying to pursuade soldiers to leave the organisation.
He said it was not possible to take formal action against the men pending a court ruling on the ban. The public prosecution department is in the middle of a string of court cases trying to have the organisation made illegal, saying it encourages a culture of crime.
One soldier has been suspended from duty because he is being investigated for criminal offences in connection with the Hells Angels, the Volkskrant said.