Rapid increase in explosive attacks in Dutch drug environment Forest fire on Spanish volcanic island La Palma: 500 people evacuated

A rapid increase in bombings in the drug scene is worrying the police in the Netherlands. By the middle of the year, 303 attacks on apartments and commercial buildings had already been recorded, compared to 325 in the entire year before, police said on Sunday. A point of attention is the port city of Rotterdam. Increasingly heavy incendiaries and explosives would be used, much like those used to blow up ATMs. It is a miracle that so far there have been only a few injuries and no deaths.

According to the police investigation, most attacks are related to drug trafficking, public broadcaster NOS reports, referring to the detectives. The attacks come when medicines are not paid on time or a delivery is lost. The attacks were not intended to kill anyone, but were intended as a threat and therefore sometimes targeted family members. The attacks would also occur in connection with extortion from restaurants or to harm an unwanted competitor. There are now also attacks in relationship conflicts, the broadcaster reports, referring to the police.

According to the police, clients are increasingly using younger people for the attacks and half of those arrested in Rotterdam were 23 years or younger. According to the police, the perpetrators often received the order through an intermediary or social media such as Snapchat or Telegram. They often do not know why and whom they attacked. The government has now increased the number of cities where preventive measures are being taken against the phenomenon and young people are being warned about the consequences if they are caught after participating in an attack. (sda/dpa)