The 20-year-old man has a Dutch passport, while the 34-year-old man is from Iran, a spokesman from the Public Prosecutor’s office confirmed on Tuesday evening to NU.nl.
It is not yet clear what the target would have been, said the Public Prosecutor. No weapons or explosives were found with the men. According to a spokesman, they probably did not yet have them at their disposal.
In a hidden space above a ceiling in the residence of one of the men, a throwing ax, a dagger and a mobile phone with several SIM cards were found.
The General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) tipped off the State unit after receiving information that the men intended to carry out a jihadist attack. “They wanted to make use of explosives and obtain training,” reported the Public Prosecutor.
Subsequently, the police deployed infiltrators. “They were indispensable in gaining insight into the suspects and their plans for carrying out an attack,” said the Public Prosecutor. One of the men was arrested in his home, the other on the street in The Hague.
The men have been interrogated, and will be brought before the examining magistrate on Thursday. This will determine the length of their custody.
The mother of the 20-year-old told local broadcaster Omroep West that she could not believe her son would be involved in a jihadist attack. “He is religious but he is not an extremist,” she said. The 20-year-old has Iranian roots, according to Omroep West.