Ron van Uffelen, the Vlaardingen plumber whose home and business premises have been the object of numerous firebomb attacks has died, his lawyer has said in a statement on behalf of the family. .

Van Uffelen (45) suffered a heart attack at the weekend and was taken to hospital where he died on Monday. “The cause of death appears to be a medical one,” lawyer Richard Korver said.

The attacks prompted Vlissingen mayor Bert Wijbenga to order Van Uffelen to leave his house and the area three times because of the dangers to his neighbours. Last month he was allowed to return to his house following a period of calm.

Police arrested some of the fire-bombers, one of whom has been given a 14-month jail sentence. None of the perpetrators have spoken about the reasons behind the attacks or who paid them to carry them out. Van Uffelen himself has always maintained he did not know why he had been singled out.

“Of course, I was asked by police what the reason might be. But I can’t say anything if I’m not sure,” he said in an interview with the AD.

The public prosecution office earlier offered a reward of €50,000 for the tip-off that would lead to the arrest of the paymaster. Some 23 attacks had been reported at the time.