A 24-year-old far-right student is arrested on charges of planning a terrorist attack.
A 24-year-old man, a member of a right-wing nationalist student association, was arrested in the Netherlands on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. The arrest took place in Badhoevedorp on Thursday after police received information that the man was in possession of firearms and was ready to carry out a terrorist act, according to the Public Prosecution Service (OM). During a subsequent raid on his home in Erp in the province of Brabant, illegal weapons and ammunition were found.
The man's identity has been established as a member of the Nijmegen branch of the right-wing student network GNSV (Great Netherlands Student Association). He had previously admitted to being affiliated with the far-right organization Geuzenbond, which targets youth in the Netherlands and Belgium and aims to "normalize far-right propaganda and strengthen the resilience of the white race through physical training," according to the Public Prosecution Service. Geuzenbond has been classified as a far-right organization by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the Netherlands (NCTV).
GNSV, which describes itself as a "right-wing nationalist" group calling for the reunification of Flanders with the Netherlands, expressed its shock at the arrest via the Telegram platform. The organization confirmed that it has suspended the man's membership pending his trial. GNSV President Dan Miershoek clarified that any alleged terrorist intent "is in no way part of the democratic debate in which the student association participates."
The presence of GNSV at student information fairs in Nijmegen and Leiden during the introduction weeks for new students has sparked a long debate. Earlier this year, members of the organization placed flowers on the grave of Hans Janmaat, the far-right Dutch politician who was convicted of inciting racial hatred in 1995.
The court issued a ruling on Friday to keep the man in custody for two weeks while authorities continue their investigation. Authorities are also assessing the extent of the man's plans and any potential connections to extremist networks.