The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is prosecuting a 36-year-old suspect in the explosion in the Rotterdam street Schammenkamp for causing an explosion resulting in death. His indictment has been expanded following investigation by the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI).
On January 29, 2024, a commercial space on the ground floor of the apartment complex exploded in the evening. Three people died. After the disaster, Jalal O. helped to remove the body of one of the three dead from the rubble. O. was arrested shortly afterwards as the tenant of the commercial space.
O. was initially only suspected of involvement in the production of narcotics. Drug-related items were found in the vicinity of the building, such as jerrycans of acetone. Investigation had to determine whether that lab had also caused the explosion. The NFI now concludes that this is the case, a spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service tells the ANP.
“The NFI has investigated the cause of the explosion. The Public Prosecution Service has studied the NFI report and concluded that the acetone vats present and the gases released from them caused the explosion,” the spokesperson said.
The Public Prosecution Service reports Thursday that a new hearing will follow at the Rotterdam court. Then the report of the NFI will be discussed. The case will not be dealt with substantively for the time being.
O. was released in October last year. He received an ankle bracelet, had to hand in his passport and received an area ban for the Zuidwijk district.