Dutch in court: ATM blasters cause a stir!

Dutch in court: ATM blasters cause a stir!

They strike again and again: ATM blasters. A 36-year-old Dutchman is currently on trial in Offenbach for his actions. These events not only caused excitement in the city, but also made it clear how professional and well-organized the perpetrators were. Loud op-online.de The blasts caused significant damage and injuries. An employee of a neighboring company was injured on May 5, 2023 when an ATM exploded at the Kickers Offenbach stadium. The financial damage is estimated at over 360,000 euros.

The charges are not bad: explosive explosions, grand theft, damage to property and negligent bodily harm. In his criminal activities, the defendant was part of a Dutch criminal network that specifically targeted ATMs in Germany. The perpetrators fled with over 220,000 euros in cash after their attacks, often in high-performance vehicles that were designed for their quick escapes.

A cross-border phenomenon

The explosions are by no means an isolated incident. On January 21, 2025, the defendant and accomplices blew up ATMs in a Vienna shopping center and stole over 89,000 euros, while the explosion also left property damage amounting to 1.48 million euros. Preparations for such attacks are extremely meticulous, as evidenced by the renting of accommodation and the smuggling of explosive materials from the Czech Republic - a veritable crime spree that is giving investigators headaches.

On May 27, 2025, 18 suspects from a gang primarily believed to be responsible for the explosions in Germany were arrested in the Netherlands. The arrests resulted in the seizure of not only cash and cryptocurrency, but also typical demolition paraphernalia, including explosives and fake license plates. This criminal group was not only limited to Germany, but was also suspected of being active in Switzerland, France and Austria. Information from tagesschau.de show that the detonations lead to the destruction of machines and buildings, endangering the safety of local residents.

The origin of the perpetrators

According to official surveys, over 70% of the suspects do not come from Germany. The largest group holds a Dutch passport and many of the suspects have Moroccan roots. This information underlines the cultural and geographical background against which the ATM explosions take place. Loud world.de This criminal scene operates primarily in the greater Utrecht area before striking in Germany. After all, ATMs store between 50,000 and 100,000 euros, and protective measures against such attacks are considered inadequate.

The federal states are trying to get to grips with the problem. In Hesse, for example, there was a record number of explosions in 2023, with 61 cases compared to 41 in the previous year. State criminal investigation offices are developing their own risk analyses, while the German police union is calling for guidance from the Netherlands in order to improve preventive measures. But the road remains rocky: the security measures taken so far have hardly had any significant success. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has therefore called crisis meetings with banks and security authorities to develop new strategies.

One thing is certain: ATM explosions pose an increasing threat, but investigators cannot underestimate the criminal energy of the gangs. They act with professional know-how and a clear goal while the authorities continue to look for ways to stop the dangerous activity.