Prosecutors demand jail for blast that killed three in drugs lab

Prosecutors have demanded a seven-year jail sentence for a man who blew up a drugs lab in Rotterdam, causing a blast that killed three people and damaged neighbouring flats.

Jalal O., 37, was renting the garage store on Schammenkamp to produce cocaine when it exploded on the evening of January 29, 2024. One of the victims was his 22-year-old cousin, who was working in the lab at the time.

A forensic investigation found that the blast was caused by vats of acetone, used in the production of the drug, catching fire at the back of the building. A neighbouring block of flats was so badly damaged that five homes had to be demolished.

Prosecutors said O. had “allowed financial gain to prevail over the safety of local residents and others”. They said he had sublet the property via a “shady arrangement”.

O. helped with the search for missing neighbours immediately after the disaster, but was arrested a few days later. He told the district court in Rotterdam he found the events “terrible”, but denied that he was using the garage for drug production.

Prosecutors produces messages between O. and his cousin showing steam rising from barrels of acetone, while residents complained of the chemical smells from the building. The prosecution said the defendant’s denials were “totally unbelievable”.

One woman who was evacuated from one of the flats said the explosion had had a devastating effect on her health.

“I have lost part of my hearing, my hair has fallen out and I have lost my teeth through stress,” she said. “I have flashbacks and sleep badly. I have nightmares in which I fall into the fire and burn to death.”