Dutch police arrest two men on suspicion of ‘preparing a terrorist attack’

Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men from Zoetermeer, near The Hague, on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.

Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men from Zoetermeer, near The Hague, on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.

Authorities say they believe the attack would likely have been carried out in the Netherlands at the end of the year, using “bomb vests and one or more car bombs”.

The two suspects, aged 20 and 34, were detained on Monday.

After carrying out searches, police found items including a throwing axe and a dagger hidden above a ceiling at one of the suspect’s addresses.

No firearms or explosives were found on the suspects.

Information from Dutch intelligence services indicated that the two men had “intended to commit a terrorist attack”.

They were said to be “planning to use explosives and undergo training to use them”.

In a statement, Openbaar Ministerie, the Public Prosecution Service in the Netherlands, said the target of the attack was not clear.

Authorities stated that a National Police Unit investigation had been launched in October, with information from the AIVD, the intelligence and security agency of the Netherlands.

The two men were being interrogated by the police on Monday and will be brought before the examining magistrate in Rotterdam on Thursday.