Police arrested six suspects aged 17 to 19 on Wednesday 11 November over a series of violent incidents in the Zaanstreek last July.[1] Three are from Zaanstad, two from Wormerland and one from Oostzaan.[2] The incidents included explosions at houses, arson, shootings and threats.[1] Police said the suspects’ role was still under investigation.[1]

In searches on the morning of the arrests, police seized data carriers for examination.[2] Police said there was no single conflict in the Zaanstreek but several separate conflicts with different backgrounds, which could include relationship problems, business disputes and drug-related or other criminal conflicts.[1] They did not rule out that some of the incidents were connected.[3] Police said the incidents had a big impact on residents.[3]

The six arrests brought the number of suspects held in the connected investigations to fifteen.[2] Police said the young people had been approached on social media and offered money to carry out violence.[3] Police said some of the young people were also put under pressure, manipulated or threatened to keep going.[4] Team chief Rick Janssen said that what begins as an apparently simple assignment can end in serious criminal offences.[1] Police said they were also looking for whoever gave the orders and were investigating more than the executors.[1] No one was killed or seriously injured in the incidents, which police called a wonder.[2] Police urged parents to watch for signs that their children were being approached.[3]