The alleged terrorist cell busted after an undercover operation last September had enough fertilizer and other chemicals to create 500 grammes of explosives, the public prosecution department said at a pro-forma court hearing on Monday.

That would have been enough to create a ‘major’ explosion, the prosecutor told the court.

Police said at the time of the arrests they had foiled a major terrorist attack but it remains unclear what event the gang was planning to disrupt.

The department began an investigation into the 34-year-old man they suspect to have led the cell in April 2018, following a tip-off from the AIVD security service.

The formal case against the men will not be heard until 2020.