9 detained in the Netherlands and Belgium following German ATM explosions
BERLIN — Nine men suspected of involvement in blowing up dozens of ATMs in Germany and stealing some 5.2 million euros (nearly $5.7 million) have been arrested in the Netherlands. Bas and Belgium, German authorities announced on Thursday.
The arrests were made Monday during searches of 16 properties in the two neighboring countries, prosecutors and police in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany said.
The suspects are between the ages of 25 and 41 and are Dutch, Moroccan, Afghan, Turkish and Romanian nationals residing in the Netherlands or Belgium, authorities said. German prosecutors are asking for their extradition. Investigators are still looking for three other alleged accomplices.
The 52 explosions at ATMs in Germany, all but one in the two southern states, began in November 2021 and continued until January 19. They occurred mainly at night.
The perpetrators caused damage estimated at more than 6.7 million euros, more than the total value of the money they stole by blowing up the machines that contained it.
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