Friday, 13
December 2024 - 16:47
Four
suspects identified in Hague explosion that killed six; Remanded to jail for
arson
All four
suspects arrested in connection with an explosion and fire that left six people
dead at an apartment complex in The Hague were ordered to remain behind bars
for at least the next two weeks while the investigation continues. The
examining magistrate in charge of Friday's hearing heard evidence about the
four men, who are suspected of arson and causing an explosion, the Public
Prosecution Service (OM) said after the hearing.
The first
three suspects were arrested just before midnight on Monday. They include a
23-year-old from Roosendaal, a 29-year-old from Roosendaal, and a 33-year-old
from Rotterdam. A fourth suspect arrested on Wednesday night was identified as
a 33-year-old man from Oosterhout. All four were arrested in their homes, but
their connection to each other was not specified. Both The Hague and Rotterdam
are located in Zuid-Holland, while Roosendaal and Oosterhout are located just
across the provincial border in Noord-Brabant.
At least one
massive explosion took place at about 6:15 a.m. on Tarwekamp in The Hague's
Mariahoeve neighborhood. That explosion then caused a fire which spread
rapidly, and was difficult for firefighters to tackle. "The men are
suspected of arson and causing an explosion in which six people died and four
were injured. They are also suspected of setting fire to a car, and are accused
of having previously made preparations to start a fire," the OM said.
The victims
include a mother, father and their 17-year-old daughter, though their
eight-year-old son was one of the survivors rescued. Greek civil engineer Vikel
Kamperai, a 44-year-old married father of three children, was among those
killed in the fire, as was a 31-year-old Dutch man named Tim who was visiting a
friend.
A
63-year-old resident was the sixth individual who died, and his wife was among
those hospitalized. Two of the people injured include a bar owner and one of
his loyal customers, both of whom fell asleep in a small living space in the
cellar of the café.
Criminal
defense attorney Gerard Spong is representing one of the four men. He told RTL
Nieuws that his client is currently suspected of "arson resulting in
danger to life." Under Dutch law, a convictions on such a charge could
potentially include life sentence. However, arson charges carry vastly
different sentencing guidelines determined in part by fatalities, injuries, and
if an offender should be aware that such an incident could be life threatening
to another individual.
Although
Wednesday's hearing was held behind closed doors, the charges against the four
suspects will likely be discussed in further detail during an arraignment
hearing before a three-judge panel at the District Court of The Hague on
December 24. These hearings are typically open to the public and media. Until
then, the four suspects will remain in restricted custody, and will only be
allowed contact with their legal representation.
State of the
investigation into The Hague explosion and fire on Tarwekamp
Emergency
services were quickly at the scene after the explosion and fire were reported.
Four people were rescued early on, including three injured adults and one child
who was not physically harmed. The intensity of the fire led to the collapse of
parts of the building, which essentially halted rescue attempts for several
hours.
Search and
rescue teams eventually entered the site in the middle of the afternoon, and
recovered the bodies of three victims. Another survivor was pulled from the
rubble at about 6 p.m., followed quickly by the discovery of a fourth dead
person. As search efforts continued, two more deceased victims were found.
Police
previously said that the target of the explosion may have been a bridal shop
located in one of the retail spaces at the street level below the two-storey
apartments. The woman's Range Rover was rumored to be one of the vehicles set
on fire during the incident. She said that she was shocked to find out the
information, and denied rumors about her involvement in either unethical or
illegal business practices.
A massive
team of investigators was mobilized to handle the incident. This included one
group to help identify the victims, and police investigations focused on the
cause of the explosion and fire, the motive behind the criminality, and
identification of the suspects.
"In
that investigation, these suspects emerged as possible parties involved in the
explosion. The investigation into the explosion continues unabated," the
OM said in its update. Police previously said more arrests are possible, and
they asked for help in tracking down two vehicles which may be linked to the
case, including a dark blue 2009 Toyota Yaris and a champagne-colored 2009 Kia
Ceed station wagon.
Life in
prison possible for some arson cases, but lighter sentences could be an option
A suspect
convicted of arson that resulted in someone's death can be handed a maximum
sentence of life imprisonment with a chance of parole after 25 years, or a
court can order a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. However, this is only
possible if the district court in charge of the case believes the suspect
should have known that the criminal act could have threatened the life of
another.
Arson where
someone's life is endangered, but without the death of a victim, can be
punished by up to 15 years in prison. Arson resulting in property damage alone
can lead to a sentence of up to 12 years behind bars. In either case, the
maximum fine is 103,000 euros not including compensation for damages claimed by
victims, according to the Dutch Criminal Code.
Prosecutors
in criminal trials will present their recommended sentence to the court during
trial. Guidelines from the Public Prosecution Service show that prosecutors
presenting arguments against a suspect in a life-threatening arson should seek
a minimum sentence of three years when there is property damage or a minor
injury.
Aggravating
circumstances including death, serious injury, extensive property damage, and a
risk of recidivism can prompt prosecutors to demand higher sentences.
Prosecutors can also ask the court to consider the evacuation of a building as
an aggravating factor.
Dutch law
distinguishes between arson, which is intentionally causing a fire or
explosion, and negligence that unintentionally results in a fire or explosion.
Being responsible for an unintended fire with fatal consequences can result in
up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 25,750 euros.
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