AMSTERDAM — Police have arrested a 48-year-old man in the Limburg town of Echt on suspicion he was involved in a plot to kill a public prosecutor and policeman.

The arrest took place on Tuesday as 80 police officers conducted house raids in six locations across the provinces of Brabant and Limburg, news agency ANP reported.

Police allegedly seized 15 firearms, a large amount of ammunition and a stolen car from Belgium in and around the house of the suspect . The man’s computers and files were also seized.

A 59-year-old Dutchman, Harrie D., was arrested near the eastern city of Venlo last month in connection with the case. He was alleged to have contacted would-be assassins to carry out the murder following  a request from the Echt man, D. has since been released.

Justice officials said at the time that the arrest had thwarted a plot to kill Roermond prosecutor Paul van Hilten — a tough attorney closely involved in the fight against organised crime — and Eindhoven policeman Fons Wijers.

After being tipped off in October, authorities took  the case very seriously and both the prosecutor and policeman were placed under 24-hour security. Extra security was also implemented at Roermond Court as Van Hilten continued to handle prosecution cases.
Meanwhile, the man arrested on Tuesday is also suspected of making serious threats to
a 50-year-old Dutchman living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 

Police also arrested a  57-year-old man in the Limburg hotel Valkenburg in connection with this case. The two suspects allegedly knew each other.

[Copyright Expatica News 2003]

Subject: Dutch news