Hofstad terrorist group retrial starts

Seven men accused of being members of the so-called Hofstad terrorist group will go on trial again in Amsterdam on Friday, news agency ANP reports.


The men were found not guilty on appeal but in February the high court ordered a retrial, saying the definitions for the ‘existence and structure of a criminal or terrorist organisation’ used by the appeal court were ‘too strict’ .
At their original trial, Amsterdam district court ruled that the gang was a terrorist organisation but said there was no proof that it was planning actual attacks and making threats.
Loose grouping
The seven are part of a loose grouping of of young Muslims which police named the Hofstad group. It is said to include Mohammed Bouyeri who murdered film maker Theo van Gogh in 2004.
Two of the group were found guilty of attempting to murder police officers by throwing a hand grenade during their arrest.
Muslim convert Jason Walters, who has an American father and Dutch mother, is serving 15 years for five counts of attempted murder. Ismail Akhnikh, given a 13-year jail term at the original trial in 2006, was given 15 months by the appeal court.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation